Am I breathing through my mouth??

Honker · Post by **Honker** » Thu May 25, 2006 12:01 pm

Hi, my first post.
How do I know if I'm breathing through my mouth at night. My mouth is really dry in the morning. I use a nasal mask, REMstar cpap plus, c-flex. I don't have software yet.
Thanks, I have been reading the posts everyday for over a month. I have learned a bunch, thanks.
Honker

wabmorgan · Post by **wabmorgan** » Thu May 25, 2006 12:26 pm

If you find your mouth dry.... or cotton-mouthed as some call it.... there is a very good chance you are breathing through your mouth. And that will interfear with your CPAP therpy.

Might try a chin strap... if you don't use one currently or you might want to try a full face mask.

brasshopper · Post by **brasshopper** » Thu May 25, 2006 12:56 pm

If your machine has a smart card and does detail recording as opposed to just compliance recording, a major clue would be the leak index. Leaks are reported in Liters Per Minute - both as an average, all night number, and as a leak rate over time - and I believe that the software uses this to indicate that at some point you have a "large leak" - the large leak time might indicate opening your mouth - or it might indicate that your mask is dislodged. There would have to be a thermistor in the area of your mouth to tell that you were exhaling.

The issue with open mouth, as I understand it, is not that it is bad for your therapy (I am probably wrong about this but I've read something recently in a provider handbook that says the same thing) but that the airflow drys everything - uncontrolled air blows in your nose, through your sinuses and out your mouth. This dries and irritates the heck out of everything. It is painful.

This extremely uncomfortable feeling got me to stop mouthbreathing fairly early on.

I've offered this to others - send me your card and a SASE, I'll read it, run the reports, and send it back to you..

idahogal · Post by **idahogal** » Thu May 25, 2006 12:57 pm

I agree. It sounds like you are mouth breathing at night. I would certainly try the chin strap first and if that does not work then try polident strips or taping with paper tape at night.

mikemoran · Post by **mikemoran** » Thu May 25, 2006 1:01 pm

You didn't mention that used a humidfier. I find that without a humidifier my mouth gets dry even if I am not mouth breathing. Without software the best indicator is if you or your partner wake up to a rushing sound. With an open mouth the air rushes through and is very audible.

polysomprincess · Post by **polysomprincess** » Tue May 30, 2006 2:54 am

#1 do you use a humidifier?
if not first off heated humidity is the key! It creates a moisture seal aiding in closing the mouth next step to follow up with is a chin strap. Do you have a bed partner who has been witness to this mouth bretahing or "mouth popping"? When is your next re-eval? Have you lost weight your pressure could be too high and "blowing your mouth open...
~Poly

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Tue May 30, 2006 5:50 am

If you have a Remstar Pro 2, by all means get the software, a lower level machine than the Pro 2 only will show you the hours you have used the machine, no help what so ever.

Mouth breathing might be making your mouth dry, but that's not the reason to be concerned, by mouth breathing the pressure can't build up and open your airway, and after all that's why you are on the machine.

The two most reliable ways to get the needed treatment are a FF Mask, and tapeing the lips. Chin straps rarely work. Jim

Mask

Additional Comments: cpap pressure: 12

Am I breathing through my mouth??

Am I breathing through my mouth??

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