Dry mouth question

justy96 · Post by **justy96** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 9:39 pm

I am using a Swift FX nasal pillow w/Respironics Remstar Plus M series w/humidifier and have been waking up multiple times throughout the night with an extremely dry mouth. The water tank is always empty every morning, so I'm assuming that it is working correctly. I tape my mouth, so I know I am not opening my mouth during the night.
Last night I discovered that while the machine is on and nasal pillows correctly placed, I am able to open my mouth without any air escaping. It's as if I am able to close off part of my throat so no air gets into my mouth. Has anyone else experienced this? I called the sleep center where I had my sleep study and they thought it was an equipment issue. I called the equipment supplier and they are stumped. Any ideas?
Thanks!

archangle · Post by **archangle** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 9:55 pm

Once you get used to it, you can close the back of your nose off with the CPAP attached to your nose and talk, drink, swallow, inhale, exhale while blocking the airflow from your CPAP machine. You can also open it back up and let air flow in from your nose back out through your mouth.

Is this what you're talking about?

lars4life · Post by **lars4life** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 10:14 pm

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 11:14 pm

justy96 wrote:Last night I discovered that while the machine is on and nasal pillows correctly placed, I am able to open my mouth without any air escaping. It's as if I am able to close off part of my throat so no air gets into my mouth. Has anyone else experienced this?

I can do that too. I also can yawn mouth open and have tongue seal the back of throat and not let pressure out.

justy96 · Post by **justy96** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 8:34 pm

Pugsy wrote:
justy96 wrote:Last night I discovered that while the machine is on and nasal pillows correctly placed, I am able to open my mouth without any air escaping. It's as if I am able to close off part of my throat so no air gets into my mouth. Has anyone else experienced this?

I can do that too. I also can yawn mouth open and have tongue seal the back of throat and not let pressure out.

So do you get a dry mouth, too? If you do, what do you do to control it?

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 8:41 pm

justy96 wrote: So do you get a dry mouth, too? If you do, what do you do to control it?

No, I just meant that I can do that yawning thing and open my mouth and not lose any air or pressure while doing it. While awake, conscious effort..

I use nasal pillow mask and I keep my mouth shut while sleeping and don't have any particular issues with dry mouth because mouth stays closed. When I first started therapy I had some mouth breathing habits so I used tape across my mouth for a couple of months and broke that mouth breathing habit. After that, no dry mouth and leak line on reports is pretty good so I quit taping. Even when I had a bit of mouth breathing it wasn't huge and the dry mouth wasn't a huge problem.

CPAPorElse? · Post by **CPAPorElse?** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 11:11 pm

Dry mouth is a side affect of using CPAP. Have you tried a chinstrap instead of tape? Get this: I talked to my sleep Doc, the #2 sleepdoc at Scripps Hospital La Jolla,(Dawson) here, he said " chinstraps don't work very well... the soft palette allows for some mouth breathing..." so I'm thinking... maybe a solid taping of the mouth isn't critical?
Anyway, if your mouth is dry, from my experience, it's a good seal on your mouth while sleeping.
That has to be good, since you're getting the pressure benefit assuming minimal leaks.
Here's the chinstrap I've had good luck with, now, I don't get a commission :~)

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/cardin ... strap.html

slojuggler · Post by **slojuggler** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 3:03 am

I'm using a default setting of 4, with a filled nightly reservoir of 65%, based on my pressure of 11.

For the side effects of dry mouth, I take an OraHealth Xylimelt (be sure to get the mint ones and not the other ones) after therapy and during the day as needed (for me 1-2 a day).

After brushing my teeth, I started using Act Dry Mouth. I no longer use my alcohol-based mouthwash, as the alcohol can dry the mouth out. The Act Dry Mouth also has fluoride.

Xylimelts:
http://www.amazon.com/Orahealth-Xylimel ... 841&sr=1-1

Act Dry Mouth:
Look at CVS, Walgreens, or your favorite store...it's in a white bottle. Looks like this:
http://backdoorcoupons.com/images/act%2 ... uth%5D.jpg

Be sure to treat the dry mouth. The last thing you need is a xerostomia-based condition:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerostomia

Let us know if this helps you out.

CPAPorElse? · Post by **CPAPorElse?** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 8:33 am

Slojuggler- that's excellent info, many thanks.

roster · Post by **roster** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 9:25 am

slojuggler wrote: For the side effects of dry mouth, I take an OraHealth Xylimelt (be sure to get the mint ones and not the other ones) after therapy and during the day as needed (for me 1-2 a day).

Mint relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter and increases the risk of GERD. http://www.google.com/search?q=mint+rel ... en&spell=1

Better to use Biotene Gel.

slojuggler · Post by **slojuggler** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 9:59 am

roster wrote: Mint relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter and increases the risk of GERD. http://www.google.com/search?q=mint+rel ... en&spell=1

Better to use Biotene Gel.

Are there clinical websites that show the increase of risk of GERD? From what I've been reading, it isn't good for people who are diagnosed with GERD, but it doesn't specify that it is bad for people who aren't diagnosed with it.
The only source I've found is http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gerd/D ... e-remedies. I'm betting people would know if peppermint is a trigger for their heartburn and if to avoid it.

On wikipedia, citations are still needed to back up that claim.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peppermint_tea

For people with GERD, I'm wondering how the non-mint flavored Xylimelt works out...
http://www.amazon.com/Orahealth-Xylimel ... 544&sr=8-1

roster · Post by **roster** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 10:30 am

slojuggler wrote: From what I've been reading, it isn't good for people who are diagnosed with GERD, but it doesn't specify that it is bad for people who aren't diagnosed with it.

Mint tends to relax the esophageal sphincter of everyone whether they have GERD or not.

It may be one of several factors that lead to GERD.

For CPAPers, it may also be a contributory factor in CPAP-aerophagia.

Mint is easy to avoid.

slojuggler · Post by **slojuggler** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 12:55 pm

roster wrote:It may be one of several factors that lead to GERD.

may is the keyword. Is there clinical evidence to suggest that mint leads to GERD? Again it aggravates GERD, but doesn't necessarily cause it (at least from readings).

roster · Post by **roster** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 2:23 pm

You are free to consume all the mint you want to at any hour of any day or night. I have no interest in stopping you.

But mint is known to relax the lower esophageal sphincter and I will contine to advise anyone with GERD or anyone who uses CPAP to avoid mint.

justy96 · Post by **justy96** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 2:56 pm

slojuggler wrote:I'm using a default setting of 4, with a filled nightly reservoir of 65%, based on my pressure of 11.

For the side effects of dry mouth, I take an OraHealth Xylimelt (be sure to get the mint ones and not the other ones) after therapy and during the day as needed (for me 1-2 a day).

After brushing my teeth, I started using Act Dry Mouth. I no longer use my alcohol-based mouthwash, as the alcohol can dry the mouth out. The Act Dry Mouth also has fluoride.

Xylimelts:
http://www.amazon.com/Orahealth-Xylimel ... 841&sr=1-1

Act Dry Mouth:
Look at CVS, Walgreens, or your favorite store...it's in a white bottle. Looks like this:
http://backdoorcoupons.com/images/act%2 ... uth%5D.jpg

Be sure to treat the dry mouth. The last thing you need is a xerostomia-based condition:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerostomia

Let us know if this helps you out.

Thank you for the tips. I'll try them and let you know how it works out.

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