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[lars4life]

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[Hosehead4ever]

I just went from the Quattro FX FFM to the Swift FX. Actually, I've only done 2 nights wit the FFM and one with the pillows. I'd just like to know what chin strap you used since I also experienced mouth opening and waking me up.

[lars4life]

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[BrianR4743]

My best solution has been the PapCap. After a year and a half, zero leaks and an AHI of under 2. Haven't ditched the strip of 3M tape yet, but hope to soon.

[Hosehead4ever]

Thanks and sorry for the threadjack.

[Pugsy]

The blue painter's tape will work, it is just a bit harsher on the skin than the "delicate" blue painters tape.. I used it because I happened to have it after a painting job. It didn't seem to create any skin problems for me but it all depends on how sensitive your skin happens to be. I used it for 2 months till I quit taping. Tried Polygrip, it works but nasty tasting and a bit messy.

[lars4life]

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[rested gal]

...Also, someone mentioned getting the 96 Cent athletic mouthpiece that one boils and then puts in the
mouth, closing the mouth to form to your teeth. I tried this, it does indeed mold to your upper teeth,
but does not mold more than 1/16 of an inch to your bottom molars. I was easily able to open my
mouth, so that is a not a happening thing.

The way I used (successfully) the cheap athletic boil'n'bite mouthguard to stop my mouthbreathing was to form two of them into a "blob" (for want of a better word) that could keep my tongue shoved back enough to block the back of my mouth. There was no mouthpiece on my lower teeth...one mouthpiece was just for the upper teeth..to hold the contraption in place. The "contraption" part was the second mouthpiece, nearly completely melted and then molded onto the middle of the upper mouthpiece. The blob made a tongue-pusher-backer.

I know that sounds like it would be moving the tongue the wrong direction, since tongue falling back into the throat can cause apneas. But that would be in people who are not using CPAP. With CPAP, and air being breathed straight down, the soft tissue at back of throat is pushed open fine, even with the tongue being pushed back so that it spreads out forming a dam to keep air from detouring into the mouth.

The key to preventing mouthbreathing with a DIY mouthpiece is not just a matter of keeping the mouth closed. It's where the tongue lays. Or is held up to, or pushed back to..whatever works for a particular individual, depending on the geometry of the inside of that person's mouth and size/placement of the tongue.

With a DIY mouthpiece designed the way frequenseeker describes it (and the slightly different way I made mine) the mouth could be hanging wide open, but the DIY would keep the tongue placed where it needed to be -- whether that meant keeping the tongue elevated, or (what worked better for me) pushed way back. It was a matter of finding whatever position it took inside the mouth to have the DIY act as a barrier against air trying to detour into the mouth from behind.

This link is to a long discussion about frequenseeker's "DIY" (Do It Yourself) mouthguard:

Topic started by frequenseeker Dec 01 2004 subject: mouth leak solution, cheap DIY oral appliance
http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/message-b ... php?t=4750

Picture of snork1's creation:
viewtopic.php?t=3265

Pictures of a one piece design by freelans:
http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/message-b ... hp?t=10676

[lars4life]

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[archangle]

I use a 3 inch Ace bandage. Cut to length, attach the ends with safety pins. Throw it away when it gets yucky or stretched. I don't use the "self stick" version, just the ordinary cloth version. Check the packaging carefully to figure out which one you're getting.

It takes some experimentation to get the tension right. I make the loop and then slip it on and off without unfastening the ends.

[napstress]

I used nasal pillows for about 3 weeks and struggled with my mouth opening. The chin strap I got from Apria didn't help. I tried the 3M Gentle surgical tape, but found it painful to remove in the morning. If I wetted it with warm water for a couple of minutes it hurt less, but left a gummy residue I had to rub off. At this rate, I'd be looking at 40 years of pulling layers of skin cells off the same area on my face! I tried masking tape. It's narrow, but I used two pieces and overlapped them a bit. That worked one night, but on another night, it came loose and air would come out. Someone on this forum had suggested covering his top lip with his bottom lip and then taping. I tried that and it worked, but it did make me feel slightly claustrophobic, for some reason. At that point, it was time for my visit to the sleep doctor, who told me that taping my mouth was a bit extreme and gave me my wonderful full-face mask.

[SleepingUgly]

Rested Gal, I can't picture your DIY technique. Was that just for training your tongue or do you still have to do that? To my memory, you tape.

[rested gal]

Rested Gal, I can't picture your DIY technique. Was that just for training your tongue or do you still have to do that?

Wasn't for "training." I made it to prevent mouthbreathing -- to make my tongue stay in a sealing position. Worked well. I used the "DIY" on occasional nights just for a change of pace from taping.

I don't have the little "DIY" anymore. I put it too close to the edge of the nightstand one morning. A dog found it and made a chew toy out of it. I never got around to making another one, since tape doesn't bother me.

To my memory, you tape.

You're correct.