How did you stop mouth breathing or leaking from your mouth

[Gerryk]

I have been a mouth breather as long as I can remember. I have read some of the things that people on here have tried. Yes, some of them work and some of them seem drastic but we do all of this to have successful therapy.

When my pressure when down after surgery last spring, my doctor started talking about fixing my slightly deviated septum and turbinate reduction so I could move air through my nose. I started to try and consciously breath through my nose and not my mouth. I immediately saw an end to my cheeks being puffed out from the pressure of cpap. I finally gave in and agreed to try a nasal interface. So I got the tape out and the chin strap, but I drew a line there no duct tape or glue for me thank you. Then I went to sleep wearing it. I didn't make it through the night because of congestion but I used it for over 3 hours. I didn't wake up with a dry mouth or throat and when I checked the data I didn't have any major leaks. So I would have to say that me consciously trying not to mouth breath and keep the air from going into my mouth has worked.

How did others get to the point that they weren't mouth breathing or at least not leaking out through their mouth?

Gerry

[goose]

Practice, practice, practice.......
I consciously worked on breathing through my nose. Keep your tongue at the top of your mouth. It took me about 6 weeks to really get it down. Now I have a hard time trying to breathe through my mouth anymore......I've come down with some kind of grunge and my nose is pretty much useless for breathing so last night I got out the FF mask and tried it.....I lasted about 2 hours before I went back to my nasal mask.....I ended up out in the easy chair with no mask and overall probably didn't get more than about 3 hours sleep all night.....I couldn't fall asleep without the mask!!!! I guess that's a good thing, but I need some sleep!!! (I've had maybe 7 hours in the last 72....and I'm not as young as I used to be!!! )...
Good luck!!!! Just takes time and persistence!!
cheers
gooes

[Muse-Inc]

I didn't! After I lost about 45#s with a noticeably thinner face and throat, I could no longer maintain the velolingual seal (airways are larger) and started losing therapy air via loose lips letting puffs of air escape. My jaw never dropped and my mouth did not open. With my unpredictable nasal blockage from chronic allergy-sinus issues, taping freaked me out as I might need to breathe thru my mouth. I ended up getting the RespCare Hybrid mask.

[DreamOn]

I didn't! After I lost about 45#s with a noticeably thinner face and throat, I could no longer maintain the velolingual seal (airways are larger) and started losing therapy air via loose lips letting puffs of air escape. My jaw never dropped and my mouth did not open. With my unpredictable nasal blockage from chronic allergy-sinus issues, taping freaked me out as I might need to breathe thru my mouth. I ended up getting the RespCare Hybrid mask.

Muse, does the InnoMed Hybrid mask that you use put a lot of pressure on the upper lip area? I know that's a subjective question, but that is my most sensitive area by far, which is why I prefer nasal pillows. I've been considering the Hybrid mask, as I think it'd be especially great if I ever have nasal congestion and can't nose-breathe well, but my local DME doesn't carry that mask so I'd be "ordering blind" off the internet.

~ DreamOn

[Muse-Inc]

...Hybrid mask that you use put a lot of pressure on the upper lip area?

Some but I have it snugged up (adjusted the top of the head strap) so that any pressure is just under my nose and not on the gum area. The cushion should not rest on touch the mouth. Our host has mask insurance so you can return it if it doesn't work out. I like this mask, a lot, and I was resigned to using it when I started losing therapy air. Depending on your facial anatomy, it might not sit the same way on your face. I love pillows! I can mouth breathe with the Hybrid so the times when my nose blocks up, I breathe OK, a little dry but that's easily fixed with a sip of water. Oh, I do use a lip balm, Badger's coffee flavor is my favorite, to avoid having my lips drying out.

[barry15]

For me, basically it was a matter of practice, and I also had a series of surgeries on my nose, to make nasal breathing easier. Actually, I needed surgery (laser turbinate reduction) to make nasal breathing even possible, and then later surgeries (septoplasty and submucous resection of the turbinates) to make it better. But, as far as leaking from the mouth, it was simply a matter of practice and time. Good luck with it. I got there eventually, and hopefully you can, too.

[DreamOn]

...Hybrid mask that you use put a lot of pressure on the upper lip area?

Some but I have it snugged up (adjusted the top of the head strap) so that any pressure is just under my nose and not on the gum area. The cushion should not rest on touch the mouth.

That sounds do-able for me. I could tolerate a mask just under my nose I think, especially since the Hybrid then goes down, around the mouth. My insurance will pay for another mask this month, but I have to use an in-network DME. Unfortunately, my DME only deals with the three major companies. So I'm trying to decide which mask to purchase through them first, as it'll only cost me about $20. I'd kinda like to try another nasal mask, but I've tried on at least 10 and they all put too much pressure on my upper lip. It's just an anatomy-related problem I'm going to have with all the nasals, I'm afraid. Even some of the pillows masks put too much pressure on the gum/lip area for me. The only two I've tried on so far that don't are the AEIOMed Headrest and Fisher & Paykel Opus 360.

Finding just the right mask really is the most difficult part of CPAP!

[DreamStalker]

I successfully eliminated mouth leaks through training and it worked for me for over 3 years. I trained by planting my tongue up on the roof of my mouth like when sucking on a gum drop or hard mint candy. Then I learned to open my mouth and still maintain the seal with the velo-thingy method that Muse referred to. In fact I even learned to talk while using the pillow mask under pressure. I think it had more to do with strengthening the muscles of the upper soft palate ... yes you have muscles there.

Anyway, this past fall, I lost the ability to control my mouth leaks. Same reason as Muse ... lost a bunch a weight

I had to find a new solution and all is well again.

[Muse-Inc]

DreamOn, try the Respironics OptiLife...my beloved former mask. Wore it 23 months.

[BlackSpinner]

I have a Hybrid and at first the pressure on my upper lip at the edge of my nose drove me nuts. But I spent a lot of time adjusting the straps and added the very light lycra (tights) strap across the pillows to keep them in and that meant I could loosen the straps even more.

I like the way it cradles my chin and sort of encourages nose breathing. I can even, if I am careful sleep on my back for a bit. The cat loves that in the morning, she lies on my chest and purrs while I doze.

[DreamOn]

DreamOn, try the Respironics OptiLife...my beloved former mask. Wore it 23 months.

I tried it on for quite a while during my initial mask fitting and didn't care for it. But I'm certainly open to trying it on again. Now that I'm more experienced with CPAP, I'm willing to consider different things.

But would the OptiLife work with the PAPCap chinstrap? Gotta keep that precious therapy air in, you know....

[DreamOn]

I have a Hybrid and at first the pressure on my upper lip at the edge of my nose drove me nuts. But I spent a lot of time adjusting the straps and added the very light lycra (tights) strap across the pillows to keep them in and that meant I could loosen the straps even more.

I like the way it cradles my chin and sort of encourages nose breathing. I can even, if I am careful sleep on my back for a bit. The cat loves that in the morning, she lies on my chest and purrs while I doze.

Thanks for the tip!

I miss sleeping with my kitty! I kinda kicked her out of the bedroom a few months ago because I decided she disrupted my sleep. Now she's waiting right there at the bedroom door every morning. She likes to drink from the faucet right away and lets me know! Weird cat.