Keeping my mouth closed???

[daf]

Is it possible to train yourself to keep your mouth closed at night? I’ve been using chin strap since I started a little over a year ago. I have yet to find a commercially available chin strap that really works for me. The best thing I’ve found is a home made strap made from wide elastic wrapped in polar fleece. The problem is that it moves around at night and I keep waking up with it around my neck. I’ve also tried the tape (not a big fan). So, does anyone have any hints, tricks, or advice? Thanks in advance.

[roster]

Is it possible to train yourself to keep your mouth closed at night? ......

Many here claim they have done it.

Why don't you try this first. Train yourself to hold a paperweight while asleep. If that works, then let us know.

[birdshell]

I have trained myself to keep my mouth shut. I have learned to place the tip of my tongue at the ridge of the hard palate. I then make sure there is a suction of the tongue against the hard and soft palate. I find that I awaken if I open my mouth OR if the mask shifts a bit anyway.

That said, there is a belief among some sleep professionals that a proper pressure will quite often solve the problem of mouth breathing/opening. This may have been a factor in my own training, as I finally got an APAP and had access to data to see if my leak rate or pressure were any different. I didn't get brave enough to do without mouth tape for at least 8 months, but that is now pretty well established...even with a cold and nasal congestion.

I also had trouble with slippage of straps until I learned that rested gal Laura's panthyhose tights were really the simplest and least slippery of all straps. Until then, I went to the dollar store and got some sticky-backed Velcro. I discarded the loop part and stuck the hook strip to itself, giving 2 sided Velcro hook. I cut the strips (experimenting with the size length and width that I liked) and they adhered to the (not rubber) neoprene straps as well as my hair.

Before getting too irate about the velcro ripping out hair, consider the concept of Velcro rollers. Cutting the strips to sizes that are minimal means the loops do not attach too strongly. There is also a version of Velcro that is available in fabric stores (sometimes) that is a softer, more gentle version but...you would probably not find it in sticky-back form. Maybe sewing a long tube of the loops out would do the same kind of thing? Or, using fabric glue?

Best wishes with keeping the elastic in place, as well as learning to keep the mouth shut!

Karen,
Whose mouth is now...shut
(and some of you don't have to be so happy about it!)

[RipVW]

I have been able to "train" my tongue to stay on the roof of my mouth, though I know some question whether or not this can be done. I believe that what one can train oneself to do probably varies from one person to the next.

[roster]

I have been able to "train" my tongue to stay on the roof of my mouth, though I know some question whether or not this can be done. I believe that what one can train oneself to do probably varies from one person to the next.

OK Rip, You can lay on the sofa and breathe without CPAP as long as you fall asleep. Right? Now when you (we) fall asleep, the muscles in our tongue and soft palate relax and create obstructions.

If you can train your tongue to stay on the roof of your mouth while asleep, why don't you train it to stay out of your airway while asleep and sell your CPAP equipment.

Regards,

[grandmma]

I agree, training the tongue can be achieved, although perhaps not for everyone. When this happens, you do tend to wake when any shift occurs - annoying for sleep patterns, but great for therapy.

Why don't you try this first. Train yourself to hold a paperweight while asleep. If that works, then let us know.

If you can train your tongue to stay on the roof of your mouth while asleep, why don't you train it to stay out of your airway while asleep and sell your CPAP equipment.

Love and enjoy your posts Rooster, and for myself am a fan of the "2x4" approach to education, but is your middle name "Thomas"?

[RipVW]

I have been able to "train" my tongue to stay on the roof of my mouth, though I know some question whether or not this can be done. I believe that what one can train oneself to do probably varies from one person to the next.

OK Rip, You can lay on the sofa and breathe without CPAP as long as you fall asleep. Right? Now when you (we) fall asleep, the muscles in our tongue and soft palate relax and create obstructions.

If you can train your tongue to stay on the roof of your mouth while asleep, why don't you train it to stay out of your airway while asleep and sell your CPAP equipment.

Regards,

LIke I said, "though I know some question whether or not this can be done." All I know is that it seems to work for me. Wish I could get a small video camera in there for proof :<)

[roster]

.......All I know is that it seems to work for me. Wish I could get a small video camera in there for proof :<)[/b][/color]

Apparently you just need to find the right camera:

......
Back on the breastfeeding/OSA connection, I once had a video that showed the action inside of a nursing baby's mouth, but I still can't find it. I did run across this link in my emails. http://www.llli.org/ba/Feb99.html I don't think it has already been mentioned even though Brian Palmer has been.

[roster]

I agree, training the tongue can be achieved, ............

If that is your training pose in your avatar, then you must also be able to sleep with your eyes open.

[grandmma]

ROTFLMAO, do luv ya rooster, never boring!

[birdshell]

I agree, training the tongue can be achieved, ............

If that is your training pose in your avatar, then you must also be able to sleep with your eyes open.

Hey, cousin Rooster...

Apparently one is able to sleep with eyes open. I think that I would find it near impossible, as my eyes tend to be dry even when closed. However, some people apparently do so.

Now, as to roosters being able to sleep with their eyes open...that is your call!

Karen,
Who definitely closes her eyes and her mouth whilst sleeping

P.S. Who ever would have thought of THAT smiley??? Scary, some folks are.

[Scarlet834]

I already inherently fall asleep with my tongue at the roof of my mouth and my jaw firmly shut. I had to add a chin strap because whatever I was doing after I was asleep was enough to generate large leaks. This was sometimes accompanied by major dry mouth. I knew I puffing out a little air sometimes and not sure how disruptive that was to therapy, but once as I came to I was conscious of a kind of panting in short breaths. The chin strap with and without taping solved the large leaks. I can't pant with chin strap in place, but it's still possible to squeeze air through my teeth. I would love to think my sleeping habits with chin strap will adjust such that I won't need to either tape my mouth all the time or morph to a full face or hybrid mask, as the nasal pillows are so darn comfortable for me.

[Pugsy]

I would love to think my sleeping habits with chin strap will adjust such that I won't need to either tape my mouth all the time or morph to a full face or hybrid mask, as the nasal pillows are so darn comfortable for me.

Keep at it, you may get your wish. I had to do some taping, chin strap and even gave polygrip a try when I first started the end of May. By the middle of July I always seemed to be forgetting to do any of those things and my leak is none the worse for it. On a very rare occasion I might have some mouth dropping open issues but they are very rare and seem to correlate with a late meal of all things. I don't have any large leaks and my overall leak average is well within acceptable limits. The leak rate line shown on the software may not be perfectly flat but it is surely acceptable.