Is this a stupid question?

[tbas]

I've read all over this forum about mouth taping and chinstraps. I'm a mouth breather and I was wondering if taping your mouth or using a chin strap is dangerous. What if you're using a nasal mask & your nose is a little stuffy, then you have your mouth deliberately clamped closed...is this safe? I've been using the hybrid ffm and am having a terrible time with nasal stuffiness and waking up very tired. I'd like to give it a break tonight and use an old mask that just covers my nose (without the pillows), but I know I'll probably breathe through my mouth and I want to avoid big leaks. I read somewhere where a woman died from taping her mouth and I'm scared. I don't have a chinstrap, but someone here suggested using a headband in place of it, as a quick fix. Can anyone put my mind at ease?

[taberge]

Use chap stick and painter's tape for delicate surfaces. It only took me a few night to train myself to keep my mouth shut while sleeping. Think of it as training wheels. As far as the stuffiness, check with your doctor. This may be allergies kicking in.

[LSAT]

You show a Quattro FF mask in your profile. If you use that you should't have a problem. You can breath through your nose or mouth or both.

[dsm]

I've read all over this forum about mouth taping and chinstraps. I'm a mouth breather and I was wondering if taping your mouth or using a chin strap is dangerous. What if you're using a nasal mask & your nose is a little stuffy, then you have your mouth deliberately clamped closed...is this safe? I've been using the hybrid ffm and am having a terrible time with nasal stuffiness and waking up very tired. I'd like to give it a break tonight and use an old mask that just covers my nose (without the pillows), but I know I'll probably breathe through my mouth and I want to avoid big leaks. I read somewhere where a woman died from taping her mouth and I'm scared. I don't have a chinstrap, but someone here suggested using a headband in place of it, as a quick fix. Can anyone put my mind at ease?

No genuine question is stupid but there can be stupid answers (not referring to the ones above - - they weren't there when I started - I'll try to make mine sensible.

Mouth taping works for lots of people but if you are someone prone to getting physically sick (vomiting) then it is not a good idea.
Such a reaction may only occur if you have gone to bed ill, or had too much alcohol or eaten bad food.

I used tape that really stuck & had no problems that mattered other than how much it hurt pulling the tape off the next day. Eventually I gave up because of that, then tried various chinstraps. In the end I settled on a F/F mask as being the least of a bad set of choices.

Good luck re your choice.

DSM

[fidelfs]

Hi tbas,

I responded to you in the other forum.

I had an experience when my cpap machine was plugged to a surge protector that was faulty. The connection was not really tight so from time to time the prongs were not making contact and the cpap machine was cycling on an off.

It was so random that I didn't notice so I went to bed with my Opus 360 and taped my mouth as usual. In the middle of the night I woke having difficult to breath (I have to breath in really hard), and notice the machine was off.
If you are normal person with no medications to help you sleep, drugs, alcohol or anything like that your body will wake you up. You will have enough time to remove the tapes (always leave at least one border folded for security) and breath from your mouth.
Think about this. What do you do when while asleep an apnea happens, your body alerts you that you cannot breath so you move or wake up. If you move the apnea is gone in you can breath gain, if not it wake you up.

This is always up to you, I had big congestion problems and I had not problem, but again this is up to you.

[rosiefrosie]

I have been taping my mouth for months and not had any problems. Even had a power failure one night and woke up immediately and removed the tape. I was able to remove it in time to sneeze too. If you should decide to try it make sure you fold over each end for easy removal.

rosie

[tbas]

Thank you all!

[tillymarigold]

One suggestion I read either here or on That Other Board was to use Polident strips rather than tape--you know, the stuff that you use to keep dentures in. They keep your mouth shut, but make it easier to open it if you have to than taping would.

Chin straps are slightly elastic, you can force your mouth open if you really have to. They're more in the way of encouragement.

[scotty]

I have chronic congestion and mouth breathe a lot. I also keep my machine on a timer outlet, and lots of times it's turned off on me when I've slept in late. I tried taping, a chin strap, and a full face mask. I don't know about others, but when I'm asleep my mouth just "drifts" open like my muscles holding my mouth shut are just totally relaxing. It's not a case where I'm unconsciously using my muscles or effort to open my mouth.

As for the machine turning off while I'm sleeping, I still get air since there's an air vent that's part of the three different masks I've gone through. Once in a while it's the reduced air flow that wakes me, but usually I can sleep like that. What gets me awake is the loud flapping of a rubber vent seal.

My chin strap wasn't so tight as to prevent me from opening my mouth. It had only enough pressure to keep it closed while I was asleep which wasn't much pressure. Even when I made it tight, I could still open my mouth if I wanted to.

I tried taping, but didn't like it because I was just worried about irritation from the tape. I only used a small, thin, strip of tape perpendicular to my lips. It would be in the position an index finger would be when someone shushes someone. I assume that's how others do it. I don't think people use a wide strip of tape across the mouth like they do in crime show kidnapping scenes.

[Madalot]

If it's any consolation, I had the same fears about taping my mouth shut or using a chin strap. In the end, I REFUSED to do either and went with a full face mask for that very reason. I am a mouth breather. I am frequently congested and CANNOT breathe through my nose at times. The full face mask solved all of this for me. My only problem now is that I drool and it's gross in the mask!!