Chin Straps & Can't Keep Mouth Shut

[debbluebird]

I have tried every chin strap available without success. I have also tried every face mask available. I like the nose pillows the best because they don't hurt my face, cheek bones, etc. I have also made several of my own chin straps. No matter how tight I get the chin straps on, I still manage to open my mouth during deep sleep. I have resulted to taping my mouth shut. That's the only thing that works.
I've been using the CPAP for over five years now. My memory is still bad. I sleep with my mask on over 8 hrs. I figure it must be that my mouth is still open at times.

[BlackSpinner]

Try the Innomed - Respcare Hybrid. It is a pain to get it adjusted the first time but it works like a charm. It has nasal pillows, a mouth cover and a chin flap to keep your jaw in place.

[Pugsy]

Please add your equipment to your profile.
Hopefully you have a full data machine so that you can actually monitor your therapy and make sure it is optimal.
It might not be mouth opening leaks if you are taping your mouth and the tape doesn't come off.
It might be something else that is sub optimal. Start with evaluating the therapy though if you can.

[Luthie2006]

I am a fair newbie to this site. I was doing well on my side sleeping until the GI doc told me because of acid reflux that I MUST sleep on my back. Great, now hear comes the leaks, which as you know is the worst position to sleep in for apnea. And my AHI did go up laying in this position.

The way I "dress" my face for bedtime literally scares my cat and she runs away from me. I put a band-aid across the bridge of my nose because it is raw (waiting for a mask liner to be shipped), I wear the Phillips Delux Chin Strap that goes around my ears, like a hat, and also started to tape my mouth. I know it is very dangerous, so I take 2 small pieces of medical tape and tape a small one going vertically on one side of my lips and another small piece vertically on the right side. This way, if I must open my mouth to breath, I still can. I was wearing a mouth guard too for clenching teeth. I did not put that device in my mouth and it seemed a little better this morning, but my mouth was still very dry. It is a process. How do you know for certain that you were breathing through your mouth?

[NateS]

I have tried every chin strap available without success. I have also tried every face mask available. I like the nose pillows the best because they don't hurt my face, cheek bones, etc. I have also made several of my own chin straps. No matter how tight I get the chin straps on, I still manage to open my mouth during deep sleep. I have resulted to taping my mouth shut. That's the only thing that works.
I've been using the CPAP for over five years now. My memory is still bad. I sleep with my mask on over 8 hrs. I figure it must be that my mouth is still open at times.

Although taping gave me the best results, I found it too much of a hassle with my mustache and beard. Instead, I found that an elastic/cotton headband like this one works almost as good as taping in virtually eliminating my mouth breathing and dry mouth, without the discomfort or claustrophobia:



Although intended as a sweatband for the forehead, I slide it down over my mouth in front and elevated a little upward in back, then hold it in place with my old Ruby chinstrap to make sure it doesn't slip down during the night. Another advantage over taping is that I can easily slip it down slightly to talk or take a sip of water, then slide it back into place. It's just snug enough to keep my lips from sliding open while I sleep, leaves no marks, etc.

They are cheap on Amazon, and I rotate a few of them in different colors with the laundry.

Good luck!

Best wishes, Nate

[Guest]

I am a fair newbie to this site. I was doing well on my side sleeping until the GI doc told me because of acid reflux that I MUST sleep on my back. Great, now hear comes the leaks, which as you know is the worst position to sleep in for apnea. And my AHI did go up laying in this position.

The way I "dress" my face for bedtime literally scares my cat and she runs away from me. I put a band-aid across the bridge of my nose because it is raw (waiting for a mask liner to be shipped), I wear the Phillips Delux Chin Strap that goes around my ears, like a hat, and also started to tape my mouth. I know it is very dangerous, so I take 2 small pieces of medical tape and tape a small one going vertically on one side of my lips and another small piece vertically on the right side. This way, if I must open my mouth to breath, I still can. I was wearing a mouth guard too for clenching teeth. I did not put that device in my mouth and it seemed a little better this morning, but my mouth was still very dry. It is a process. How do you know for certain that you were breathing through your mouth?

The reason I know that my mouth opens is this: I wake up and my mouth and sinuses are very dry. I've only been putting on the tape the last four hours of sleep. That seems to be when I have the deepest sleep. Earlier, they aren't dry. Plus it's only a little strip, corners are tape free. I'm also not convinced that I'm getting good sleep since I'm still tired all the time. I'm sleeping about 10 hours at night, plus a nap during the day.

[debbluebird]

Try the Innomed - Respcare Hybrid. It is a pain to get it adjusted the first time but it works like a charm. It has nasal pillows, a mouth cover and a chin flap to keep your jaw in place.

I've tried this one too. It leaks.

[JDS74]

It will be very helpful if you register and post your equipment. I have a link in the signature block on how to do this.

If you have a machine that can record therapy information, then getting reporting software is the next step. What software you can use depends on your machine and on your computer.

For your records, you should get all sleep study reports that have been done. Your sleep doc can get you those but you need to ask. Also, for your records and peace of mind, you should also ask for a copy of your CPAP and mask prescription. Having this last item means you will not be tied to a single DME or if you have an emergency while traveling, you will be able to get replacements, etc.

If it is in your budget, get a recording pulse-oximeter so you can look at your blood oxygen level at night. Even with good apnea treatment, it is possible to have low oxygen that could be treated and help with the tiredness. Without a meter, it would be hard to tell. The sleep study report will also have conments on oxygen levels during the study and that is a good place to start.

If you mention these concerns to your doctor, you may get an over night oximetry test done and that would give good information. Having your own meter lets you do this same test repeatedly with additional costs.

[avi123]

TAPING MOUTH'S LIPS

If you tape your mouth’s lips because you want to reduce your mouth air leak and thus improve the XPAP treatment, then you’re likely to invite a Meteorism situation. In such a situation you lock- in extra ingested air in your GI tract. The extra air has no easy way to go and be vented to the atmosphere. You better of keeping your mouth somewhat open to let some trapped air go out to the atmosphere, even if this mouth air leak has some negative effect on the XPAP’s proper treatment. An elastic Chinstrap that allows some mouth opening could solve this problem. “Meteorism”, is a similar medical term to “Aerophagia”, but the latter term is used more often for intestinal air distention resulting postoperatively.

If you are taping your lips to avoid a Dry Mouth condition then the taping don't stop air from entering your mouth from the nose and throat, i.e. from the "back side" (pharynx). Usually, when you swallow your saliva which is generated in the salivary glands around the mouth, and then it is secreted into the mouth and subsequently you swallow it (also during sleep), if your lips are air tight then the air must come in from the back to replace the swallowed saliva's volume. So this air circulation, from the "back side", will dry your mouth in spite of taping your lips. The problem could be to a lesser degree than from an untaped mouth b/c the air from the pharynx is moister. But, it is clear that taping your mouth to completely prevent a Dry Mouth, is impossible. You better of with an elastic Chinstrap which would prevent opening your mouth very wide but would allow some lips opening to let air be breathed from the front. However, using a Chinstrap instead of a full face mask would cause the XPAP's treatment to be negatively affected somewhat depending on the amount of air lost and not controlled by the XPAP.

[debbluebird]

It will be very helpful if you register and post your equipment. I have a link in the signature block on how to do this.

If you have a machine that can record therapy information, then getting reporting software is the next step. What software you can use depends on your machine and on your computer.

For your records, you should get all sleep study reports that have been done. Your sleep doc can get you those but you need to ask. Also, for your records and peace of mind, you should also ask for a copy of your CPAP and mask prescription. Having this last item means you will not be tied to a single DME or if you have an emergency while traveling, you will be able to get replacements, etc.

If it is in your budget, get a recording pulse-oximeter so you can look at your blood oxygen level at night. Even with good apnea treatment, it is possible to have low oxygen that could be treated and help with the tiredness. Without a meter, it would be hard to tell. The sleep study report will also have conments on oxygen levels during the study and that is a good place to start.

If you mention these concerns to your doctor, you may get an over night oximetry test done and that would give good information. Having your own meter lets you do this same test repeatedly with additional costs.

I put the name of my machine on my profile. I have a pulse ox for periodic checks and have had over night study done. My machine is new. Got it in March. It has a variable setting depending on my needs.
I've only taped my mouth a couple of nights. Won't be doing that again.
I have the elastic chip strap. I like the one I made the best. I'll just stick to that one.
Thanks for all of the suggestions.

[NateS]

…I put the name of my machine on my profile.…

Your equipment information is not being displayed.

You have to click "Edit Equipment" on the left side of your screen in your profile, and then fill the information in there.

Regards, Nate

[donwie]

I finally bought one that works for me from Amazon, it is the PAPCAP COTTON CHINSTRAP, works the best I have tried and is pretty comfortable.

[avi123]

I finally bought one that works for me from Amazon, it is the PAPCAP COTTON CHINSTRAP, works the best I have tried and is pretty comfortable.

Do you mean this product:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CyhzcNaCRI

or this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkByHPBPwXc

[DavidCarolina]

the full face takes a bit to get used to for the claustrophobic, but at least youre not dealing with that
extra problem.

My quattro fx is the best ive had, little leakage, and after awhile you simply dont notice that your
entire breathing is under a mask.

[Day_Dreamer]

OP What is your leak rate?


everyone At what leak rate should we consider a chin strap? Mine has been getting to 8 some nights.