Dry Mouth

[JeffL]

Last night I upgraded from my Resmed S9 Autoset to the Autosense 10Autoset.

I woke up a couple of times during the night with a dry mouth. I changed the climate settings to manual, 75 degrees, humidity 7. When I woke up, I still had a dry mouth. I thought the humidifier wasn't working, but the tank was down 2/3! Nothing is leaking, so all that water must have gone up my nose. Actually, after waking, I rolled over on my back (head pointed up), and felt a drop or two of water at my nostrils. I never had this happen with my S9.

Any idea why my mouth was so dry?

[Poprouge]

I'm a newbie to cpap, but have been using my Airsense 10 for almost a month. I was also having severe dry mouth, but my issue was mouth leaks, figured that out with sleepy head software. I tried a chin strap (what a load of crap), and was about to give up and call my clinic. I even upgraded to the climate control tubing and put it on auto. I saw somewhere someone suggested a double mouth guard, those used to treat snoring. I've had a mouth guard for years for grinding so switching over to one of those double units was easy. When I molded it I made sure the "breathing" slit sealed over so I couldn't breath though the slit. Fixed it all, no more mouth leaks and I've just about completely eliminated the dry mouth issues. Not sure if it's what's happening with you but that was my solution.

[ChicagoGranny]

Dry Mouth

Dry mouth and excess humidifier water usage are signs of mouthbreathing.

[yaconsult]

A simple two inch strip of 3M Micropore paper tape, available from WalMart for $3.27 for two rolls, can completely solve this problem: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Nexcare-Gent ... s/19898482 It's what I use every night. No more dry mouth and most nights, no leak at all. For many people, chinstraps do not work because you can still blow air through your lips even when your teeth are clenched.

[chunkyfrog]

I vouch for the Micropore tape.
Do not cheap out and buy the store brand tape.
Some of it STINKS!

[yaconsult]

I agree, froggy! I tried some of the others and there was no comparison. What I didn't realize until I tried it is that 3M sells their Micropore tape at Walmart under the name NexCare. But if you read the small print, it's Micropore. It comes in two varieties - latex and paper. The paper is much more comfortable on the lips and recommended. The latex doesn't breathe.and feels kind of slimy to me, but it can also get the job done.

[Hannibal 2]

Are you saying use micropore to tape your lips closed? If so, does it work more effectively than using a 'dry mouth gel'?

[Wulfman...]

Last night I upgraded from my Resmed S9 Autoset to the Autosense 10Autoset.

I woke up a couple of times during the night with a dry mouth. I changed the climate settings to manual, 75 degrees, humidity 7. When I woke up, I still had a dry mouth. I thought the humidifier wasn't working, but the tank was down 2/3! Nothing is leaking, so all that water must have gone up my nose. Actually, after waking, I rolled over on my back (head pointed up), and felt a drop or two of water at my nostrils. I never had this happen with my S9.

Any idea why my mouth was so dry?

Mouth-leaking or mouth-breathing is almost always a cause of "dry mouth". And, since you're (apparently) using a nasal mask, that's a huge clue. Even using a full face mask, the mouth will become dry if mouth-breathing.
Mouth leaking can also be a cause of excess humidifier water usage........the water exits with the air.
Too much humidity can also contribute to nasal congestion which in turn causes more mouth-breathing/leaking.
Too many people think that if they have dry mouth they need to increase the humidity......when the opposite may be what's needed.


Den

.

[tan]

Are you saying use micropore to tape your lips closed? If so, does it work more effectively than using a 'dry mouth gel'?

of course, it does. Taping fixes the root of the problem, whereas gel takes care of the consequences

[ChicagoGranny]

Taping fixes the root of the problem

The root of the problem is either anatomy, nasal congestion, habit or some combination thereof. Taping does not fix the root.

whereas gel takes care of the consequences

Gel used appropriately is a preventative.

[yaconsult]

Are you saying use micropore to tape your lips closed? If so, does it work more effectively than using a 'dry mouth gel'?

Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. A single strip of the tape I linked above from Walmart - NexCare paper tape. Suck your lips in and tape horizontally across the now straight gap where your lips were before you sucked them in. This reduces my leaks to nothing and no more waking up with desert mouth and throat. I use it every night and the difference in the data is clear.

[Hannibal 2]

Are you saying use micropore to tape your lips closed? If so, does it work more effectively than using a 'dry mouth gel'?

Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. A single strip of the tape I linked above from Walmart - NexCare paper tape. Suck your lips in and tape horizontally across the now straight gap where your lips were before you sucked them in. This reduces my leaks to nothing and no more waking up with desert mouth and throat. I use it every night and the difference in the data is clear.

Ok, I just ordered the 3M 50mm x 5M one from Amazon UK, will revert back to my nasal mask and give this a try, thank you for the tip

[JeffL]

Update after day 2 -

My mouth was not as dry last night. It didn't feel any drier then when I was on the S9, which was never enough to bother me. I don't know why I had the problem with the new S10.

I just updated my software so I could check everything out.
I noticed that the pressure is up, and AHI is down the last two days, 11/29 and 11/30 (that's when I went on the Air Sense 10) Is that significant? I can see I had some mask problems last night, I'll take care of that tonight.

[chunkyfrog]

All of the above.
If one thing does not work for you, try something else.
The reason we all have different opinions is that one size does NOT fit all!

[grybeard77]

Does the tape work with a beard and mustache ???