FFM vs Nasal

[MaxINTJ]

I am just curious if there is a reason for one or the other? The exception being if a person mouth breathes a nasal mask is obviously no good.

[LSAT]

I am just curious if there is a reason for one or the other? The exception being if a person mouth breathes a nasal mask is obviously no good.

That's the reason

[RomeinDNVR]

I believe this really is a comfort issue for most people that decide to wear a FFM who are not mouth breathers. Personally I have a Wisp nasal mask for 95% of the time and a FitLife total mask for when I have sinus issues. I sleep far better with my nasal mask than my FFM, but when my allergies are bad or I have a nasty cold I don't really have a choice but to wear my FFM.

I have also heard that some people cannot handle so much surface pressure being forced onto the bridge of their nose with a nasal mask. Thankfully I have not (yet at least) had this problem.

[MaxINTJ]

I am just curious if there is a reason for one or the other? The exception being if a person mouth breathes a nasal mask is obviously no good.

That's the reason

OK, I was thinking that was just too simple of an explanation....

[Pugsy]

Yes, it's pretty much personal preference unless there are some significant nasal congestion issues that force someone to mouth breathe pretty much all the time.
Some people just like the security they feel with a full face mask....some people don't like the direct flow feeling of going up the nose that nasal masks bring.

It's okay to have personal preferences and it's okay to have one person's preferences differ from another person's preferences no matter what the reason.
Pretty much everything related to cpap comes with a huge YMMV sticker.
I went 6 years without even owning a full face mask because
1...hadn't really ever needed one
2...hadn't found one that I could actually sleep with for various reasons

So now I have had one for 2 years and still haven't ever really needed one. But I have one that I can sleep with if I ever really need one.

[Madalot]

I have never used anything BUT a FFM. I am a mouth breather (when I fall asleep) and I just cannot stand the nasal masks. Found a FFM that worked (not working as well since I lost a lot of weight) and just stuck with it.

As Pugsy said, sometimes it's just personal preference.

[KenM]

To each their own really.

apples vs. oranges

some cant use a FFM
some cant use nasal

I honestly thought that I was a mouth breather and wouldn't be able to use a nasal mask.
couldn't have been more wrong.
after being tired of ratchet strapping a FFM on so it wouldn't leak I switched to a nasal.
yes I used the mask primer and did tons of research but the F10 and Simplus would leak badly (leak rate over 90 all night) every time I moved unless it was painfully tight.
a different FFM "may" have worked, but the designs are similar its extremely doubtful.
Plus the dry mouth meant extra cost of xylimelts.

made the switch to a nasal
trained myself to breath thru my nose with a chinstrap (took a month)
no need for xylimelts
rarely get a large leak and when I do its because at some point I open my mouth, but its usually for less than a minute and happens maybe a couple times a week.
I sleep MUCH better.
AND, I have a deviated septum

Soooo, use the mask that works for you.
And just because you think you are a mouth breather, in reality our bodies are designed to breath through or nose.
its just your sleep apnea makes you think your starving for air thus must breath through mouth.

[lliann]

To each their own really.

apples vs. oranges

some cant use a FFM
some cant use nasal

I honestly thought that I was a mouth breather and wouldn't be able to use a nasal mask.
couldn't have been more wrong.
after being tired of ratchet strapping a FFM on so it wouldn't leak I switched to a nasal.
yes I used the mask primer and did tons of research but the F10 and Simplus would leak badly (leak rate over 90 all night) every time I moved unless it was painfully tight.
a different FFM "may" have worked, but the designs are similar its extremely doubtful.
Plus the dry mouth meant extra cost of xylimelts.

made the switch to a nasal
trained myself to breath thru my nose with a chinstrap (took a month)
no need for xylimelts
rarely get a large leak and when I do its because at some point I open my mouth, but its usually for less than a minute and happens maybe a couple times a week.
I sleep MUCH better.
AND, I have a deviated septum

Soooo, use the mask that works for you.
And just because you think you are a mouth breather, in reality our bodies are designed to breath through or nose.
its just your sleep apnea makes you think your starving for air thus must breath through mouth.

Me too. FFM just gave more real estate to leak from. Nasal was good but it took awhile and trying many different things to find one night my mouth finally got with the program. My mouth and me made a deal that if we got chipmunk cheeks, we could open the door/mouth for 5 seconds, let the air out and shut the door back up. ..............no more aerophagia too. yippee