Newbie Taping Mouth Shut

[Tom513]

Hello everyone, I am new to this forum and to using my CPAP. Started on it a couple of weeks ago. First tried a nasal-only mask, but woke up several times after mouth would automatically open. I then switched to full-face, but couldn't find a good fit - too much leakage.

So I went back to my nasal mask and now tape my mouth shut. Does anyone else out there do the same? If so, what tape works best for you? I use athletic tape, which is very comfortable. This morning though, after I peeled the tape off, I had some skin tear off with the tape and it left marks on my face. I realized tonight that those marks are on the exact same spot where my chin strap comes over the tape. I'm using a chin strap as well in hopes that I will ween myself off the tape and use only chin strap. I'm ditching the chin strap tonight though and only using tape. The chin strap isn't effective at all.

I'm rambling. Glad there's a forum for us. I live in the greater Cincinnati area. Anyone else from the area?

[cflame1]

I've read of folks using medical tape, paper tape and painter's tape (blue gentle kind).

[Pugsy]

I used the blue painter's tape for about 2 months when I first started therapy. Chin strap wasn't quite effective enough.
After a couple of months I started getting lazy and "forgetting" to tape till lights were out so didn't want to mess with it.
Upon checking my reports my leaks were quite acceptable and they stayed that way. I think my mouth opening was habit from gasping for air with the events. Since I normally breathe through my nose just fine I guess I unlearned a bad habit and replaced it with a good habit for a change. No need to tape or even use a chin strap for over 2 years now.

[happysleeper]

Hi Tom513,

I found that when I just used tape, moisture condensed under the tape which either loosened it or gave me a rash around my mouth. I did some research on this site and found that others have been successful using polygrip strips between their lips to gently seal them from moisture, either humidified air or saliva, escaping. However, this is too gentle a grip to keep my lips from parting when my jaw drops. SO...I use the polygrip strips, then I take a small piece of paper tape, fold the end over to make a tab for easy removal, and put the paper tape over my mouth from under my nose to my chin (vertical). Minimal, gentle tape on my skin with a good moisture seal. No chin strap needed, so I'm not over-heated at night. This works so well for me that I haven't gone back to trying the chin strap.

Because my nasal pillows don't have an anti-asphyxia valve (don't need one because most users just open their mouth and breathe if the power goes out) I have an alarm plugged in that goes off and awakens me if the power goes out. I don't want to struggle to breathe in my sleep, did years of doing that already before CPAP!

I recently told my DME provider that I'm taping my mouth shut with my nasal pillows, because I don't tolerate a full face mask. He was shocked, shocked! And said that no one had ever told him that they were doing this. I replied that yes, no one had ever told him...

You'll find that the folks on this website do a lot of experimenting to make sleep comfortable and cpap effective. Good luck!

[SleepingUgly]

People mention the 2080-EL painters tape a lot. If I didn't have aerophagia, I would just tape. I am trying the Ultimate Chinstrap at the moment. I'll write a review of it that will bump up that thread.

[Uncle_Bob]

Tom

Its sounds like you are leaking due to jaw drop and have tried a chin strap.
I'm not sure what chin strap you have tried but i tried about 2 or 3 before i came accross the PapCap.
It has a lower strap part that really worked in preventing jaw drop unlike the stretchy chin straps that just cup the chin.

http://www.pur-sleep.com/products/produ ... category=6

[rested gal]

Welcome to the forum, Tom.

LINKS to: Mouth leaks - Air Leaks - Tape - DIY Guard
viewtopic.php?t=8011

[archangle]

Taping your mouth risks suffocation if the machine quits blowing and you don't wake up. You will be rebreathing your own exhaled air. Oxygen will decrease and CO2 will increase. This can cause you to sink deeper into unconsciousness and stop breathing. This is why the FDA requires all full face masks to have an anti-asphyxia valve.

Most people will wake up and be able to take the mask or tape off, but it's not a sure thing.

Another risk is aspiration pneumonia if you vomit before you can get the tape off. Aspiration pneumonia is very bad. Google it.

Many people tape anyway despite the risks. The risk may be small, but you'll probably be doing this for the rest of your life so risks add up.

[graciegram]

My unconscious self has a huge desire to breathe through my mouth too. I use a heavy neoprene chinstrap. At times putting in a dental appliance (like one of those mold-to-fit-your mouth guards) has helped. You can spend $20 at the phramacy or $5 as an athletic retainer. Sometimes I'm just too tired to do the retainer and just use the chin strap. Pat in OlyWA

[apneawho]

I tape using Nexcare paper tape. Chin strap didn't work for me. I also tried Chin up strips at chinupstrip.com. They work second as well to the taping for me. Your mouth is not covered with those.

[bdp522]

I use a medical grade paper tape made for sensitive skin. I also put a light coating of milk of magnesia on the skin where the tape will be. It allows the tape to come off easier and leaves the skin intact. I've also found that if there is skin irritation, the MoM helps it heal quicker. I rub ob the MoM, let it dry, then tissue off excess. Been doing it this way for years with excellent results.

Brenda

[Tom513]

Thanks for all the input and advice!

I think I will try a different chin strap; probably the Pap Cap or the Ulimate Chin Strap. I'll let you know how it goes when I get it.

Hope you all have a good nights sleep.

Tom

[slumberer]

Perhaps a full-face mask? I was given a nose mask and could not keep my mouth shut (many of my friends say this is a problem while I'm awake as well). I switched to a full-face mask and its done the trick.

[buckeyered]

It took years of straps ,tape, and many different full face and the oracle mask until I just gave up on taping and plugging my nose, I just used a nasal mask let my mouth open and after a couple of weeks of constant waking my mouth trained itself to stay closed (most of the time). I sleep on my side and I will place a small pillow under my chin and that helps a lot.

[rested gal]

Been putting tape over my mouth every night for the past seven years. AND using a chin strap to keep my cheeks flattened, since when they fill with air the pressure tends to loosen the tape sometimes.

I've been using the 3M blue painter's tape successfully for several years. Now am using a more secure tape - Tegaderm. But the Tegaderm is so thin and sticks so well, it's difficult to pry up an edge for removal in the morning and near about impossible to make a tab at the end. So after putting the Tegaderm over my mouth, I put a wide strip of the blue painter's tape (turning over a tab at the end for easy grasping) over the Tegaderm. The Tegaderm lifts off when I start removing the blue painter's tape in the morning.

Two layers of tape and a chinstrap. Yeah, I'm quite a mouth breather when sleeping. Takes all that to enable me to use the nasal pillows mask I love so well, and not have to use a FF mask.