Dry mouth and snoring while using CPAP

[Palatineboor]

I've used a ResMed CPAP with Swift nasal pillow mask for about two years without any problems. Then one morning about 6 months ago I woke up with a dry mouth. I'd never had this problem before, either when using the CPAP or before I started using it. I've struggled ever since with that problem. My doctor had me tested for a syndrome he thought might be the problem. It wasn't. He tried changing one of my medications without any relief. I tried two different full face masks, but found I could not use either of them. One bruised the bridge of my nose, and I could not get the other to seal properly. Finally I bought a chin strap that worked for several months. Now I find I am again waking up with a dry mouth and my wife says I am snoring in the early hours of the morning again. I've got the chin strap cinched up as tight as I can comfortably wear it. I've thought about seeing an ENT specialist, switching to a ResMed Liberty mask, or seeing a different doc from the the one who prescribed CPAP in the first place and checked me out when I first had the dry mouth problem. I'd really appreciate any input from forum readers about this problem. Thanks.

[BobHale]

I have a similar problem that started around 6 months into cpap. I have not tried a full face mask. Using a chin strap would work for a couple of nights then require tightening. I find that I am letting the center of my tongue drop down from the top of my mouth. I find that sleeping on my side helps somewhat. I am thinking of trying a bite guard to replace the chin strap.

[rested gal]

I've been putting tape over my mouth every night for the past six years. Never found a FF mask (tried many of them) that I could sleep in anywhere near as comfortably as with nasal pillows and tape.

In addition to the tape, I use a chin strap just to keep my cheeks flattened. With no chin strap, they balloon out and loosen the tape toward morning.

Sounds drastic, I know. But, that's the only way I can prevent mouth breathing at night, and be able to use my favorite nasal pillows mask rather than have to use a full face mask.

LINKS to: Mouth leaks - Air Leaks - Tape - DIY Guard
viewtopic.php?t=8011

[dtsm]

my wife says I am snoring in the early hours of the morning again.

Sounds like cpap is really working for you - early morning REM sleep.

Seriously - many of us are in similar situation. Some use FFM but they are known to leak like crazy and don't fit well for everyone. I tried and couldn't find one that did not leak. So I now belong to those who use tape nightly to manage my leaks. Not 100% effective but manageable....

[rosiefrosie]

I also am more comfortable with nasal pillows and tape my mouth everynight. Works great for me and my numbers are good!

rosie

[OutaSync]

I found that a chinstrap only keeps the jaw from falling down. To keep the air from leaking out my lips and causing dry mouth, I, also, tape them shut with 3M micropore tape for delicate skin. No pain, no mouthleaks.

[rad3766]

Would you consider taping your mouth? I resorted to this a few weeks after starting my therapy and reading about it on here. I was using a nasal mask, but I knew I was mouth breathing, taping worked very well and I had no more dry mouth.
During a follow up visit to my sleep center, I mentioned in passing I was taping my mouth shut......Gasps of horror.....as if they have never heard of this practice before. I was sent home with a FF mask, which I thought was going to work well, but to my dismay, my wife informs me I was snoring while using it and I know I had at least two apneas with it on, I awoke choking a few minutes after falling asleep.
Long story short, its back to the nasal mask and tape for me.

[Janknitz]

Do you have a data-capable machine?

Pressure needs change over time, and perhaps you are no longer getting sufficient pressure. Or, if you've been using your machine for some time, it may need to be checked out to make sure the pressure is still adequate.

If you are not getting enough pressure to keep your airways open, your mouth will open and you will snore.

Also, have you changed your nasal pillows recently? Remember they wear out over time and you may not be getting as good therapy if they are not holding up.

[Palatineboor]

Thanks for the info to all who answered - I was thinking about taping, but had qualms about it. Your replies gives me some confidence to give it a try. Also nice to know the name of a tape to use. I have changed pillows recently. And I will look into having the pressure in my machine checked out. That sounds like it might be the source of my problem. It would explain the sudden onset and persistance of the dry mouth/mouthbreathing problem. I remember when I first started using cpap I thought to myself, wow, I'll never be able to have my mouth open the way this thing works. Now I have no trouble holding my mouth open when on the machine. I guess reduced pressure could be the blame. Again, many thanks.

[streetrodder]

I had problems feeling like I was not getting enough air and leaks started happening around 3:30am. I had changed new FX pillows it got better a couple nights. I had also bought a new head gear from ebay. I think my problem was the elastic strap was loosing it's elasticity and slipping. changed headgear and got better.
I can't bring myself to tape my mouth plus I have a beard and mustache and that would be painful I think.

[Guest]

How does one their mouth, any special way?

[dtsm]

Thanks for the info to all who answered - I was thinking about taping, but had qualms about it. Your replies gives me some confidence to give it a try. Also nice to know the name of a tape to use.

Some of us prefer the 3M [2 inch wide] blue painters tape, #2080 [not #2090] - less painful to remove in the morning

[GeneS]

Hello
CPAP does not work when you breath or snore thru your mouth so you need to solve it to get good treatment. I use a nasal mask with a chin strap and tape my mouth every night. There may be other ways that will work for you but you need to solve it. A full face mask eliminates mouth breathing but you need to find one that works for you. If you get the CPAP to work you may not need more medicine etc.
GeneS

I've used a ResMed CPAP with Swift nasal pillow mask for about two years without any problems. Then one morning about 6 months ago I woke up with a dry mouth. I'd never had this problem before, either when using the CPAP or before I started using it. I've struggled ever since with that problem. My doctor had me tested for a syndrome he thought might be the problem. It wasn't. He tried changing one of my medications without any relief. I tried two different full face masks, but found I could not use either of them. One bruised the bridge of my nose, and I could not get the other to seal properly. Finally I bought a chin strap that worked for several months. Now I find I am again waking up with a dry mouth and my wife says I am snoring in the early hours of the morning again. I've got the chin strap cinched up as tight as I can comfortably wear it. I've thought about seeing an ENT specialist, switching to a ResMed Liberty mask, or seeing a different doc from the the one who prescribed CPAP in the first place and checked me out when I first had the dry mouth problem. I'd really appreciate any input from forum readers about this problem. Thanks.