Dry mouth

[Ginger46]

I am using Amara View mask. My mouth is SO dry, that when I wake up it is painful to unclench my jaws. Help!!!

[Julie]

You might have the wrong size mask, or it's badly fitted, or just not the right one for you, but you must be opening your mouth a lot when sleeping and either leaking Cpap air from the mask, or else your pressure is set too low and you're trying to get more air in (only you would know that answer - what are your pressures set at?). Are you using the humidifier?

You can try Biotene from the drugstore - helps a lot of people here.

[Pugsy]

Using a full face mask, even if it is properly sized and fitted, and even at maximum humidity level delivery doesn't guarantee that the mouth will stay well hydrated.
The humidifier was original designed to help moisturize the nasal cavity and not the oral cavity which is much larger. Sometimes it just can't keep up.

Mouth breathing will dry out the mouth..and for some people the mouth just gets more dried out than others ...for any number of reasons but it's the mouth breathing that is the usual culprit.
Sometimes meds that dry out the mouth can also be a factor.

So what to do...
If you are using a low setting on your humidifier you can try maximizing the setting to see if it helps or not.
There may be additional options depending on exactly what equipment you are using. Sometimes increasing the moisture in the air will help but sometimes it just doesn't and about all you can do is add one of the OTC products designed to help with dry mouth....or work on the cause of the mouth breathing and reduce the mouth breathing which is easier said than done.

[ChicagoGranny]

I am using Amara View mask. My mouth is SO dry, that when I wake up it is painful to unclench my jaws. Help!!!

I use a mask similar to yours, and I had the same problem when first starting with CPAP. There are two things which solve my problem.

First, I wear a firm foam collar to keep my jaw from dropping - see below.

I like the DMI Universal Firm Foam Cervical Collars -
http://www.walmart.com/search/?query=DM ... %20Collars

The firm works better and lasts longer than the soft. There seems to be no loss in comfort with the firm over the soft.

The cells in the foam break down over time. One lasts me about four months.

Typically the 3-inch width fits a smaller person, and the 3.5-inch or 4.0-inch fits a larger person. Some may need to change the size up or down on the second order. The larger size you can wear, the more support to keep the jaw from dropping.

Walmart ships free to your closest store for customer pickup.

-CG

Also, because I do get a bit of leakage between my lips at times during the night, I use Orajel ---->

For dry mouth - Orajel For Dry Mouth - http://www.drugstore.com/orajel-dry-mou ... tid=340685

I use this every night - a bit between the gums and teeth lasts all night. Put a dab on the end of your tongue and work it between your lower teeth and gums. Repeat for upper teeth. Apply it just before the mask goes on and try not to suck it down before you fall asleep.

- CG

Good luck!

[DeniseR7]

I have tried a full-face mask too and after a few days I had the same problem. My mouth's inner tissues felt like cement. I was given a chin strap but it is not so very comfortable. I was interested in reading all the responses here. I may get a firm collar to try next. always something!

[JDS74]

Hi Ginger.
Please register so it will be easier to communicate with you.

Why are you using a full face mask? Did you try one of the nasal varieties and it just didn't work for you?
Dry mouth is a result of air flow through the oral cavity and, for full face mask users, is a result of their breathing through their mouths and not through their noses.

A couple of things can improve the situation:
1) Use a soft cervical collar to support you jaw when the muscles relax with sleep.
2) Use a chin strap (I prefer the collar) for the same reason.

If you can, switch to a nasal mask and use a collar of chin strap to limit the air from through your mouth.

If all that fails, then increasing the humidity all night long is the only solution.
Let me know, and I'll post a link on how to do that. It's complicated but it works for me and some others,

[avi123]

I rinse my mouth with:



from

[ChicagoGranny]

Avi, A mouth rinse gives relief for no more than five minutes. We are talking about something that requires a long lasting gel.

Plus, the one you posted contains 11% alcohol. Alcohol will dry tissues!