Mouth Leak Problems

[Newsgrouper]

I am not a mouth breather. I sleep with my mouth closed. My problem is that air gets diverted to my mouth (my tongue does not keep a seal) and air frequently "pops" through my lips. I say pops because that is the sound it makes. This continuously awakens me and preventing me from getting the restful sleep that CPAP is supposed to help. My pressure is not high, only 9cm.

I have tried some of the remedies I have found in searches but none have helped. I am unable to "train" my tongue to keep a seal and the tape solution works but is uncomfortable to say nothing of the scabs I now have on the areas surrounding my lips (and yes, I am using the tapes recommended here). I have just ordered a Mirage FF mask and hope that will help. I've been 100% compliant for the week I have been on CPAP but tonight may be the first night I sleep without it.

[Nitro Dan]

Try using one of those soft terry sweat bands that tennis players use around their heads. It may be just the ticket for you. If it's not tight enough, you can use a saftery pin to take some slack up.

[snork1]

you might just need "training wheels" for your tongue. There has been a lot of activity lately around a DIY (Do It Yourself) mouthguard. (try "DIY" search), here and on other forums. For under $10 its worth experimenting with a sports guard (or two...if at first you don't suceed) to get it to push your tongue back and/or up.

Even if it has to be combined with a lightduty chin strap (or maybe just use a sweat band) getting ZERO mouth leaks (or close to it) even with a chin strap that is quite a break through for a lot of people to try for.

this made a HUGE difference for me and a couple of other people so far, although of course, there are no guarantees, since everyone is different.
Sure seems worth a shot.

Yah, I sound like a salesman for this, only there is nothing to sell, since its not a commercial product yet...unfortunately.....

[gailzee]

I'm going to Walmart tomorrow and get one and try it. The chin strap I bought is GARBAGE. My lips pop all night like blowing bubbles, wakes me up, annoys me, can't fall back to sleep, the velcro from the too short straps is a hair yanking mess. I like your idea, and txs............

Gailzee
who'll try a headband on my face, to stop my lips from popping. Even when my lips coulda, shoulda, were gonna, pop ain't popping correctly now!
English major, who forgot what little she knew...

Try using one of those soft terry sweat bands that tennis players use around their heads. It may be just the ticket for you. If it's not tight enough, you can use a saftery pin to take some slack up.

[snork1]

Try putting the headband just below your lower lip, instead of under your chin. I little bit of pressure just under the lip works a lot better than a lot of pressure under your chin.

[Newsgrouper]

The terry cloth headband idea has solved my mouth leak problem. Snork is correct that it takes only a little pressure "just under the lip" to keep ones lips closed. The head bands are $1.00 each at Wal-Marts and not uncomfortable at all. Great idea!

[lynn]

I tried the headband thing last night for mouth leaks. It works!!!! Thanks so much for this idea!!!! I wore my Swift last night and even though I don't normally experience much leaking with it, I think the headband made everything even more secure because the Swift straps were held more securely, resting on the soft fabric of the headband rather than over my squeaky clean face ??
Who knows, it worked! Eight hours! 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. What a beautiful day - wow I can see 11 elk grazing from our window here....the wildflowers are in bloom -- I'm off for a hike with my two Aussie kids!

lynn