Mouth opening while sleeping

[tsmithfsj]

I am a three month user of a respironics CPAP and a Resmed Swift (nasal) mask and am really struggling with finding an effective way to keep the pressure (11CM) from blowing my mouth open while I'm sleeping. I love the feeling of having supplied air to my nose while resting, but having my mouth blow open and waking up every thirty minutes with "cotton mouth" is detracting from the experience. I've tried various chin straps but haven't found one yet that is effective. Is anyone aware of a mouth plug of some sort or are there any suggestions?
Thanks very much.

[apneawho]

I am 5 weeks on cpap with nasal pillows and I had minimal success with a chin strap so I started taping my mouth with paper tape, some use blue painters tape, and I am also trying chin up strips to see whether I prefer taping my mouth or using the chin up strips. The jury is not in yet, but taping my mouth and chin up strips are both effective and I think I am actually training my mouth to stay shut! Imagine that. You would have to know me to understand how funny that is.
The chin up strips are available on line, just google it. They are probably more expensive than tape. If you buy in bulk, like 500, it will bring the price down, but the packs of 30 are about 50 cents each. I didn't try to re-use for an additional night yet but that is my next trick. There is enough adhesive that I think it might work. I like them because they do the job and your mouth is not covered which is more comfortable and natural feeling for me. I got the trial pack of 8.
Taping also works for me. I bought 2 inch Nexcare paper tape at Walgreens.

[soundersfootballclub]

Have you tried the ACE bandage chin strap method archangle has suggested here? I realized the chin strap I bought was worthless and to not give up on that idea but try a different type. ACE bandage type is working for me in terms of not allowing air to blow out although it creates a new problem, that of making me feel hot under the covers. I also still have some dry mouth issues regardless. It's not easy figuring this stuff out. Sigh.

[Pugsy]

I am a three month user of a respironics CPAP and a Resmed Swift (nasal) mask

Please register and then add your equipment to your profile. Here's how. wiki/index.php/Registering_Equipment_in_User_Profile

What model of Respironics machine?

Early on in my therapy I also taped my mouth shut. Chin straps seemed to slide around and let mouth fall open.
I used blue painters tape. After about 2 months it seems I must have learned to keep mouth shut.

If you are mouth breathing because of some serious nasal issues...you may need a full face mask but if nose isn't the issue, you might try tape or polygrip (tastes nasty but works). Neither sets up like cement and if you yawn big, the seal is broken.

[LSAT]

I am a three month user of a respironics CPAP and a Resmed Swift (nasal) mask and am really struggling with finding an effective way to keep the pressure (11CM) from blowing my mouth open while I'm sleeping. I love the feeling of having supplied air to my nose while resting, but having my mouth blow open and waking up every thirty minutes with "cotton mouth" is detracting from the experience. I've tried various chin straps but haven't found one yet that is effective. Is anyone aware of a mouth plug of some sort or are there any suggestions?
Thanks very much.

There's an App for that.....it's called a FF Mask.

[BlackSpinner]

I am a three month user of a respironics CPAP and a Resmed Swift (nasal) mask and am really struggling with finding an effective way to keep the pressure (11CM) from blowing my mouth open while I'm sleeping. I love the feeling of having supplied air to my nose while resting, but having my mouth blow open and waking up every thirty minutes with "cotton mouth" is detracting from the experience. I've tried various chin straps but haven't found one yet that is effective. Is anyone aware of a mouth plug of some sort or are there any suggestions?
Thanks very much.

Try the Hybrid face mask - best of both worlds. It is extremely important to get mouth leaks under control. You are loosing therapy that way.
"lose lips sink ships" and wreck your therapy

[tsmithfsj]

Thanks for the helpful advice. I'll check out the tape.

[LinkC]

When you get tired of taping, Blackspinner's advice was the best you got...

[SMenasco]

In my opinion, no mask, chin strap, cpapcap or any other device now offered will address a serious the open mouth problem. At least, not in my case. Tape is the only method that will eliminate my dry mouth, which is caused by rcirculation, air exiting the mouth. A full face mask will provide the needed therapy, but will not stop recirculation and dry mouth. I have tried all kinds of tape and for me, the 3M blue painter's tape No. 2080-EL is the best value and works best for me. If anyone finds a cure-all for dry mouth, please post it.

[MamaBear2016]

I am a three month user of a respironics CPAP and a Resmed Swift (nasal) mask and am really struggling with finding an effective way to keep the pressure (11CM) from blowing my mouth open while I'm sleeping. I love the feeling of having supplied air to my nose while resting, but having my mouth blow open and waking up every thirty minutes with "cotton mouth" is detracting from the experience. I've tried various chin straps but haven't found one yet that is effective. Is anyone aware of a mouth plug of some sort or are there any suggestions?
Thanks very much.

Try the Hybrid face mask - best of both worlds. It is extremely important to get mouth leaks under control. You are loosing therapy that way.
"lose lips sink ships" and wreck your therapy

This appears to be an old thread, but I just found it. Will anyone see my reply?

I'm a CPAP user for a few years now. I was very resistant to it at first, for years. It must be one of the most unnatural things in the world, to wear a contraption over your face as you sleep. But I was getting tip of tongue problems with words ( apparent memory holes ), so it became very clear that I had to do the blankety blank "sleep study". Where they wire you up and try to force you to sleep irregular hours ( I usually sleep from 1:30 AM until mid morning, but they demanded 9 PM! ) and you cant sleep that way!

Anyway, I wound up getting an autoPAP. The problem I have is that when the pressure ramps up after so many hours, it blows my mouth open and it starts drying out, and WAKING ME UP, which defeats the whole purpose. And I just came across this thread and it sounds like it also defeats the PAP function when the mouth blows open, too? Isn't air still getting past the blockage and into the lungs? Jeez... ( I'm not choking or waking up gasping, like before the CPAP, so I figured the mouth blowing open was just an inconvenience and wakes me up when I don't want it to. )

So it would help to get a solution for this, even if just to prevent me being awakened in the middle of the night by the mouth blowing open.

I see they have full face masks, that go over the nose AND mouth? Wouldn't that solve the problem?

[LSAT]

The full face mask or possibly a chin strap to keep your mouth closed may solve your problem. Please fill in your equipment in the Control Panel so we know exactly what you are using...also. what are your pressures?

[avi123]

...

[nanwilson]

Avi... for your info..... the Liberty leaks like a sieve, where the hybrid does not, plus it has the advantage of being able to raise or lower the pillows.... and its cheaper. Just because it has the resmed name on it does not make it better than any other brand, its a matter of common sense and choice. Try both and you will see. or easier yet... just read the reviews on here ... press the search button above and read many opinions.

[tan]

The full face mask or possibly a chin strap to keep your mouth closed may solve...

quite the opposite. Both ffm and chin strap tend to put pressure and the jaw thus aggravating the mouth opening. Collar or mouth taping (vertical application pulling chin up) are then helpful alternatives.

[chunkyfrog]

I concur. Vertical is 1000% better than horizontal.
Only one chin strap will do that for me--PapCap.
Otherwise, it is tape, preferably my home made chin up strips-in MY size.