EXTREME DRY MOUTH

[better-sleep-always]

I am a brand new user to using a CPAP. I got the nasal pillows. I am waking up all night long with extreme mouth dryness, as dry as a bone, even with the warm humidification on. Obviously if there is no solution I cannot continue using CPAP.

Is there a solution to this problem?

[OkyDoky]

There can be a solution but you need to determine if the dry mouth is from mouth breathing because it may be effecting your therapy. Does your machine show you leak rates?
For dry mouth I use Orajel For Dry Mouth.
Please sign in and list your equipment. This might help wiki/index.php/Registering_Equipment_in_User_Profile
If you have a machine that has full data we can show you how to get software to read your SD card.

[BlackSpinner]

I am a brand new user to using a CPAP. I got the nasal pillows. I am waking up all night long with extreme mouth dryness, as dry as a bone, even with the warm humidification on. Obviously if there is no solution I cannot continue using CPAP.

Is there a solution to this problem?

There are literally hundreds of masks on the market and the one you need is a full face mask type. Right now all your therapy is blowing out of your mouth.

[better-sleep-always]

My report shows the below. is 95th mean high leak or low leak?

Therapy Hrs: 6.68
Leak 95th %: 18.00
AHI: 0.10

[OkyDoky]

The 95 Percentile means that you had leaks AT or Below 18 L/min for 95% of the time. It really doesn't tell us how long you had the leaks at 18 it may have a short time or for the total time.
The Resmeds say they compensate for leaks up to 24L/min. Now it still could be mouth breathing and the cause of dry mouth. It is easier to tell on Sleepyhead to see the leak graph.
What we need to know is what machine you are using to tell if you can get other data off your SD card.

[palerider]

Just that all leaks were below 95...

as Okydoky says, it means that the leaks were at, or below that amount, 95% of the time, in better-sleep-always's case.
at or below 18lpm, 95% of the night.

[seeing you]

If you find a cure for dry mouth let me know. Nothing I have tried works FFM over nose pillows did not work and using jell did not work sure it soothed my mouth but nothing to eliminate dry mouth. I went back to nose pillow trying to see if that would work tape and all did not and even with chin strap I would wake up with air running around in my mouth. I am 71 male and first ever to have to use c-pap but so far nothing I have tried has worked so if you find any thing that does please let me know. Thanks Larry

[BlackSpinner]

If you find a cure for dry mouth let me know. Nothing I have tried works FFM over nose pillows did not work and using jell did not work sure it soothed my mouth but nothing to eliminate dry mouth. I went back to nose pillow trying to see if that would work tape and all did not and even with chin strap I would wake up with air running around in my mouth. I am 71 male and first ever to have to use c-pap but so far nothing I have tried has worked so if you find any thing that does please let me know. Thanks Larry

At least with a FFM you don't lose therapy air. So go back to what works for your therapy, a FFM, and deal with the dry mouth with oragel or other preparations.

[MarcoSil]

Larry,

I had persistent problems with night time dry mouth, before cpap and after cpap as well. Didn't make any difference if I used the humidifier or not, or whatever kind of mask I used.

I have solved this problem by having my dentist make me a pair of flexible teeth guards that fit over both lowers and uppers. I put some biotine gel (I've tried orajel as well but I prefer the biotene) in the guards before going to sleep. This has solved my dry mouth problem. For me it was as big an issue as the apneas as far as getting a decent nights sleep.

[49er]

Larry,

I had persistent problems with night time dry mouth, before cpap and after cpap as well. Didn't make any difference if I used the humidifier or not, or whatever kind of mask I used.

I have solved this problem by having my dentist make me a pair of flexible teeth guards that fit over both lowers and uppers. I put some biotine gel (I've tried orajel as well but I prefer the biotene) in the guards before going to sleep. This has solved my dry mouth problem. For me it was as big an issue as the apneas as far as getting a decent nights sleep.

MarcoSil,

Thank you so much for this. I will ask the dentist about the mouth guards.

I prefer the biotene to orajel also but neither one has worked that well. It sounds like the mouth guards keep the biotene contained in the mouth area.

Thanks again.

[chunkyfrog]

A mason drinking jar with a lid and straw works wonders.
I have a sip, and swish it around if needed. Just water.
No need to remove my P10.
And no silly dry mouth is going to keep me from breathing all night!
My Airsense stays ON--nonstop!

[49er]

A mason drinking jar with a lid and straw works wonders.
I have a sip, and swish it around if needed. Just water.
No need to remove my P10.
And no silly dry mouth is going to keep me from breathing all night!
My Airsense stays ON--nonstop!

Thanks CF but unfortunately, when I wake up prematurely with a dry mouth, your suggestion doesn't work. Reapplying Biotene to my mouth helps a little but I really need to talk to my dentist about this issue. Orajel unfortunately doesn't work very well for me even though I am glad it helps most people on this forum.

Interestingly, when I am home, eating a teaspoon of xylitol helps the most. Might try xylitol gum or mints when I am on the road.

No, I am not stopping therapy and to be honest, I really can't blame the dry mouth for my wakeups. As I have previously mentioned, until I find an alternative which I am exploring, I have to keep using the machine no matter what.