Training not to mouth breathe

[aussie_hosehead]

When I was talking to my sleep doc she said that sometimes those of us who need to mouth tape can dispense with our mouth tape after a couple of months as we learn not to mouth breathe or to let the air escape from our mouths.
I would be interested to know if there is anyone out there who has found this to be true.

[EatBBQ]

Never used tape and trained myself to keep my mouth closed.

I just use my tongue to block my oral airway. Worst I have had is sometimes my tongue gets lodged between my teeth as I have a small misalignment of my jaw.

Fixed that with a cheap sporting goods store mouth guard I trimmed to block my tongue from getting in between my teeth.

While you are watching tv or doing something else, try using your tongue, in a relaxed state to block the airway. If you try alot of positions you will eventually find one you can use.

My two pennies.

[SelfSeeker]

EatBBQ, Interesting that you were able to train your mouth. Good doing on your part.

Many people are more successful with the sport mouth guard at keeping their tongue at the right place.

I doubt it is that easy to train yourself to keep your mouth closed. If it is that easy then many people would not be taping their mouths for years instead of the couple of months that your sleep doc told you it should take. I do not know of the people that would fit the sometimes it can be done.

Everyone is different.

Training yourself would be a good goal to try, but do not stress over not doing it and be happy if you did train yourself.

When you are in deep sleep and the body relaxes, it is hard for you to control your mouth.

I hope that not being able to train to keep your mouth from leaking will be considered a failure or something.

Hoseheads have so many things to worry about as it is.

[DreamStalker]

Everyone is different. ...

I hope that not being able to train to keep your mouth from leaking will be considered a failure or something. ...

Nah ... those of us that can are just lucky to have the right physiological structure to do so. It took me about a week to train myself not to leak air out of my mouth. Ordered a couple of chinstraps and never had to use 'em -- Later found out that chinstraps don't work ... matters not to me anymore

- r

[Goofproof]

I used a FF Mask for the first year, because I just knew I was a Mouthbreather. But I still practiced sucking my tongue to the roof to the of my mouth, while awake.

Later, I tried a ComfortGel Mask, and was able to control leaks for the most part. You need to monitor the leak numbers, to tell, but I can keep my AHi down to the same levels as with a FF Mask.

The bad part, at times I bite my tongue, as a nerve reflex, not by choice. Jim

[birdshell]

After clicking on this link, please scroll down to Rested Gal's posting. I believe there is more information there than one could want on the subject!! (That is how one's eyes may look after reading the reference postings.)


Link to a Discussion on Mouth Breathing Solutions

Yes, folks, Rested Gal does it again.

[snoregirl]

some are indeed lucky that way. I am on over 6 months of CPAP and every once in a while i try it and end up with the mouth from the saraha.

I am stuck with the tape.

Congrad's to those who can do without!!

[lvwildcat]

Kinda related-I use the Oracle and F/P states that after a few weeks you shouldn't need the nose plugs as you can train yourself not to exhale nasally. I have had no luck in this area and continue to strap on the mask and plug up the nose nightly.

[Snoredog]

I used to think that it wasn't true, after all the muscles that control that action are involuntary and you have no control over them once you are asleep especially in REM. I mouth breathed for years had to go to a full face mask.

But recently I wanted to try a nasal mask to see if it improved my therapy, I had the tape sitting on the nightstand in case I did, haven't needed it in nearly a month using the nasal mask. Before that I used a UltraMirage Full Face, but even wearing it I wouldn't mouth breathe. Since starting with the Somnotech Soyala, I have been watching my leak rates very closely as that is a sign you are mouth breathing, so far leak keeps dropping, it is down to 32L/m, at my pressure that is excellent.

I first concentrated on eliminating nasal congestion as you breathe through you mouth when you cannot breathe through your nose. That includes cutting out the nose hairs with one of those Panasonic nose hair trimmers. I then used the saline Rhino rinse. Lastly, I practiced falling asleep with my tongue planted into the hard palate. Some people have tried using Polygrip in the hard palate to keep the tongue there, I didn't do that.

[tater pie]

I've been on cpap for a little over two years and still mouith breathe if I don't tape. I guess I'm just one of the unlucky ones or exceptionally slow to learn new things. I think the latter is probably true. I've tried several chin straps and none of them worked. I have two full face masks and none of those worked either. I've tried concentraring on keeping my tongue in position while I go to sleep and practicing while I'm awake to no avail. The minute I go into REM sleep, open goes the mouth. I use Coach Sports Tape and it works like a charm. I tried Ace Sports tape and it didn't work. I'm also a drooler and the Ace Sports tape would come loose.

[Morpheus]

I was convinced I had trained myself not to mouth breathe a long time ago. I never - and I mean never - woke up with my mouth open or awakened my relatively light-sleeping wife with machine noise.

Got re-titrated recently, and as soon as I dropped off, my mouth blew open and they had to fit me with an FF. Still trying to make that work, but am in the meantime Breezing + Chinstrapping, and feel pretty good. Certainly better than before I got re-studied.

My pressure settings, by the way, were about 100 percent too high, and it was probably a good thing that in deep sleep my mouth blew open. The high settings were making me run centrals almost from time I dropped off. I was, I'm guessing, probably better off with my mouth open and running the chance of OSA than shut and having CNA's.

[jacko]

Learn not to mouth breath ,now that would be good ,just dont think it will happen with me
If ya ever learn Aussie come on down to Victoria and teach me
It would be great not to tape
catch ya Jacko

[Moon]

I am new to this site so I hope I don't get out of line...
anywho, Mouth tape, I am totally against it, one reason; what would you do if the power goes out???
Over time you should start breathing through your nose, once your brain believes in your CPAP...
Moon

[OwlCreekObserver]

I am new to this site so I hope I don't get out of line...
anywho, Mouth tape, I am totally against it, one reason; what would you do if the power goes out???
Over time you should start breathing through your nose, once your brain believes in your CPAP...
Moon

What happens if you're wearing a full face mask and the power goes out? You wake up because breathing becomes more difficult, though not impossible, and you remove your mask.

That's exactly what happened to me just a few nights ago when a major storm caused a lengthy power outage. I was wearing a nasal mask at the time and had my mouth taped as usual. I'm typing this, so I guess I must have survived.

It's truly not as big a deal as it might seem.

OCO

[Wulfman]

Masks are supposed to have "Anti-Asphyxia Valves" in case the power goes out so you CAN breath (some).

Den