Mouth Breather Question

[oldgearhead]

I alternate between the Hybrid, the CL2/nasal pillows plus mouth tape, and the CL2/Simple Cushion.
Here is how I react with each of the three masks:

CL2/Simple Cushion - Works well. However, the bridge of my nose gets about as sore as it did with
other cover-your-nose interfaces. Nice side benefit is I can sleep in this mask without taping my mouth.
Probably because the pressure is spread over a larger area than the nasal pillows.

Hybrid - I like this mask. The only downside is, my face gets damp and it
slides around and wakes me up in the night. But the therapy is great, and
the interruptions don't seem to affect my treatment.

CL2/nasal pillows/mouth tape - Ahhh! I sleep right through the night and
dream with this set-up. However, I do get tired of it and switch to one of
others frequently..

[sleepergal]

I've been on cpap for 2 months now. I can't seem to use a full face mask or the hybrid so I must succeed with a nasal mask. I use the Nexcare 3/4" Transpore tape from the drugstore and run it from just under my nose, over the middle of my lips, down my chin, and end it under my chin on my neck. I also use every tool in my arsenal to control my nasal congestion since I have year-round allergies. I feel really comfortable with my taping approach because if I do get stuffed up while sleeping, I can easily breathe around the tape. I also use the milk of magnesia for my skin, chapstick for my lips, and Ayr gel for my nose to keep irritation to a minimum (actually, I've experienced no irritation with this approach).

This taping procedure works great for me. I use the CL2 with nasal pillows(heaven!!), sleep great, have great AHI and leak numbers, and sleep like a baby most nights. Life is good again!

P.S. My dentist told me he tapes his mouth to train himself to nosebreathe and he isn't even on cpap. He said lots of his friends are doing it, too, because there's so much evidence out there about how unhealthy mouth breathing is. He uses the criss-cross method with a big "X" of tape across his mouth. Go figure!

[birdshell]

And one may also use several vertical strips of the 3/4" tape to hold the mouth closed, which is how I developed the vertical method for myself. Horizontal lengths of the 3/4" tape split open too easily.

[snoregirl]

I was a certified mouth breather precap, mouth hanging open etc.

I didn't care for full face although I started there.

I went to swift pillows and taped and used an ace bandage under my chin and over the crown of my head also.

I have periodically tried to go for naps without one or the other (tape or ace bandage) or both and have come to the conclusion, I must tape forever. Not all that bad as the tape is not a problem.

I use Nextcare gentle paper tape and cover the whole lip area. If I don't I cover it all I leak. Some people are lucky and can tape less than the whole mouth.

I say to the original poster, try whatever pillow you would like. The pillows make it feel natural for me to breath with my nose (but I still open the jaw) but it really is fine. Try the tape, try without but beware of the desert mouth which means leaking. Try with chin strap too. I love the pillow over the ff mask.