Mouth breathing with full face mask and chin strap woes.

[Tformhals]

For probably the last two weeks I have notices I am waking up with my mouth open and a very dry mount and an empty or near empty humidifier. I have the Amara View full face mask. I ordered a chin strap https://www.cpap.com/productpage/deluxe ... hleak.html. The first time I used it I don't think I had it tight enough as I woke up with my mouth open. Last night I tightened it up and slept for two hours and woke up and ripped my mask off without even unfastening the straps. I have never done this before. I fell back asleep without my mask! which I never do! The chin strap seems very bulky and hot. I can see why it needs to be wide so it doesn't cut into your face. I'm thinking of trying the tape on my mouth and see if that will work. Are there any other options to stop mouth breathing besides a chinstrap or tape? Maybe the chinstrap will just take some getting used to much like CPAP did originally.

[OkyDoky]

A soft cervical collar is used by some here. ChicagoGranny recommends these. https://www.walmart.com/search/?query=D ... %20Collars

[grayghost4]

Dito on the cervical collar... I also use a boil and bite mouth guard along with the cervical collar

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Anti-Snore-Mout ... SweW5VNMXS

[Tformhals]

How do you size the collar? Trial and error or neck measurement?

[grayghost4]

most drug stores carry the 3in or 3.5 ... ... use the largest that you can tolerate I use a 4 in.

https://www.amazon.com/Ergonomic-Cervic ... ollar&th=1

[avi123]

usually, you don't use a chinstrap together with a full face mask. you can see in these photos the mess with the head straps if you combine these. are you ready to switch to a nasal mask together with a chinstrap?

[Okie bipap]

When I first started using a cervical collar, I purchased an adjustable collar to use until I could determine what size I needed. This is the collar I found at a local drug store: https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/futur ... 27-product

[avi123]

I don't use a collar yet but if I decide to get one I would follow the sizing chart in this website (you need to click on SIZING CHART):

http://www.braceshop.com/procare-form-f ... collar.htm



Size Instructions:
Height is determined by sternal notch to chin.

It's a bit difficult to measure, while looking in a mirror you need a rigid scale for height measurement and a flat piece to put its end on the sternal notch and hold it horizontally to support the vertical scale.

[Hannibal 2]

Do chin straps actually work? I have never tried one because I assume you could still open your lips and breathe through your teeth.

[palerider]

Do chin straps actually work? I have never tried one because I assume you could still open your lips and breathe through your teeth.

that would be the major flaw... they're really only good for people in danger of having their lower jaw fall off.

[LSAT]

Do chin straps actually work? I have never tried one because I assume you could still open your lips and breathe through your teeth.

You are correct

[cands]

I use the Amara View. I have a deviated nasal septum that was only partially repaired in an operation many years ago.
My mouth needs to be open when I sleep, at least some of the time. The trouble is keeping it just a little open, and not wide open. My bottom lip dropping out of the mask was an initial major problem.

Here are some tips that work reasonably well for me:

Adjust the top straps so they are as low as possible without touching the ears.
The crown strap should be as far back as is comfortable.
Hook your fingers around the lower straps and pull them gently downward after all other adjustments are made.

The combination of the above help to keep a downward pressure on the mask. In my case it mostly stops my mouth from opening too much, and the mask from migrating up my face.

Good luck.

[Tformhals]

I use the Amara View. I have a deviated nasal septum that was only partially repaired in an operation many years ago.
My mouth needs to be open when I sleep, at least some of the time. The trouble is keeping it just a little open, and not wide open. My bottom lip dropping out of the mask was an initial major problem.

Here are some tips that work reasonably well for me:

Adjust the top straps so they are as low as possible without touching the ears.
The crown strap should be as far back as is comfortable.
Hook your fingers around the lower straps and pull them gently downward after all other adjustments are made.

The combination of the above help to keep a downward pressure on the mask. In my case it mostly stops my mouth from opening too much, and the mask from migrating up my face.

Good luck.

Thanks for the tips yes I have a big problem with the mask riding up.

[avi123]

Do chin straps actually work? I have never tried one because I assume you could still open your lips and breathe through your teeth.

If one uses a Resmed cpap machine then it is OK if air is going out through the mouth as long as it is at a rate of less than 30 liter per minute. So you could use a nasal mask plus a chinstrap like the one in the photo below and you don't need to tighten the chinstrap much.

[chunkyfrog]

I had a Ruby chin strap. (Sent it on to somebody else)
Believe me; not everyone can (or should) wear one.
I had immediate, severe headaches--some people suffer from TMJ. --not much fun!
Chin up strips are more comfortable and way more effective.