Dry mouth

[cinycat]

Please help. I am having a devil of a time with dry mouth and have done pretty much everything. It wakes me up about every 2-3 hours. My mouth is full of cotton wool and my tongue is stuck to the roof of my mouth. I've been on a CPAP for about 3 years now and, up to now, just loved it. I've got the humidifier turned up as high as it will go. Some nights I exhaust all the water in the tray, some nights I don't (can't figure this one out). I only use distilled water.
My mask is not leaking, just replaced the seals on it (and have done so every 6 months). I'm not taking any new medications. Any ideas of what to try now?

[LSAT]

Since you neglected to tell us what mask you are using, I'll assume that it is a nasal or pillow mask and that you are mouth breathing. If that is true, you need to try a chin strap or a full face mask.

[HerbM]

Wish I had an answer; I am interested in this issue since it is likely to affect me.

If you aren't using a mask that covers you mouth, have your tried taping or some other way to ensure you mouth stays closed?

[Sheriff Buford]

I find that if I use Biotene mouth wash before bed-time, it will reduce the severity of my dry mouth. It does not eliminate it, but it does reduce the severity. It also comes in a spray application (which I will try out when I empty the mouth wash bottle) and there are some generic brands that I have not tried.

Sheriff

[bigdano]

Hi all,

I used my CPAP for the first time ever. I use a full face mask. I breathe mainly through my mouth, and have never successfully changed this habit. My unit has a humidifier, and it was set to 82 degrees. I also got really bad dry mouth last night. Don't really have an answer for this question, also hoping to get help.

[Sheriff Buford]

Hi all,

I used my CPAP for the first time ever. I use a full face mask. I breathe mainly through my mouth, and have never successfully changed this habit. My unit has a humidifier, and it was set to 82 degrees. I also got really bad dry mouth last night. Don't really have an answer for this question, also hoping to get help.

There really isn't an "answer" to dry mouth. Dry mouth occurs when you breath thru your mouth at night. If you use a nasal or nasal pillow mask, it can deter your therapy because the air is exiting your body thru the mouth and you need the air to keep your windpipe open. Mouth breathing is ok with a full face mask or a total face mask. Either way, the dry mouth feeling is a result of mouth breathing. Some folks get it real bad and some (like me) can manage it. Increasing your humidity level can help and using chin straps to keep your mouth closed at night will help eliminate mouth breathing. Some folks use chin straps but still have dry mouth, to some extent. I have learned to live with it.

Sheriff

[greendesign]

I am anew CPAP user (14 days) and had severe drymouth, caused by mouth breathing. I greatly reduced the problem by using a nasal spray to clear the nasal passage. So far so good. Sure am glad I stumbled onto this site, I am amazed by the total lack of info given by my Doctor and my DME, thanks for all the info
Allen -Indanola WA


Mask Quattro RX

[ironhands]

I am anew CPAP user (14 days) and had severe drymouth, caused by mouth breathing. I greatly reduced the problem by using a nasal spray to clear the nasal passage. So far so good. Sure am glad I stumbled onto this site, I am amazed by the total lack of info given by my Doctor and my DME, thanks for all the info
Allen -Indanola WA


Mask Quattro RX

LOL! I couldn't agree more. I think the docs expect the DME to do it, and the DME expects the doctor to have done it. I'm glad I've been here for ~7 months before getting my trial machine last week

[Oddprofessor]

I am anew CPAP user (14 days) and had severe drymouth, caused by mouth breathing. I greatly reduced the problem by using a nasal spray to clear the nasal passage. So far so good. Sure am glad I stumbled onto this site, I am amazed by the total lack of info given by my Doctor and my DME, thanks for all the info
Allen -Indanola WA


Mask Quattro RX

Hi greendesign, be careful with those nasal sprays. They work by constricting the blood vessels in the lining of your nose, and quite soon your body will start fighting back by creating inflammation and even more stuffiness (rebound effect). (My allergist also cautioned me about the possibility of necrosis, or tissue death, happening as well from over use.) You shouldn't use them for more than 3 days.

There are prescription nasal sprays that are safe for longer term use.

[pdeli]

Interestingly enough I have found that by reducing my humidity from 4 down to 1 reduces my dry mouth. I still have a problem with keeping my mouth closed, but dry mouth is lessened in any case. Obviously counter intuitive.

Phil

[Jeannh]

Dry mouth occurs when you breath thru your mouth at night.

Mouth breathing is NOT the only cause. I tape, and awaken in the am with the tape in place, and a mouth so stuck together I can hardly open it. I've tried everything suggested, have very low leaks, and have a bi-pap. I sleep with a mouthful of Biotene gel.

Hoping that this won't mean I have to discontinue. My dentist is unhappy. I'm about out of ideas, but welcome any info folks have to offer! Thank you in advance!

[valka218]

Hi, my name is Lillian and I suffer of sleep apnea for almost 13 years. I had tried different masks like the nostril ones, another one above your mouth, and the full face mask that I am using now. my air pressure is set from 8 to 20 range because I am using an autopap machine. My machine also has a heating tube that prevents raindrops and an adjusting control bottom for the humidifier. My machine is a 560 model autopap machine.
My problem is that I am a mouth breather and even me using the full face mask, I still breath thru my mouth, and I experience dryness in my mouth/troat. I do not know what to do, how can this problem can be resolved.

[greendesign]

Sleepyhead wrote:
<Hi greendesign, be careful with those nasal sprays. They work by constricting the blood vessels in the lining of your nose, and quite soon your body will start fighting back by creating inflammation and even more stuffiness (rebound effect). (My allergist also cautioned me about the possibility of necrosis, or tissue death, happening as well from over use.) You shouldn't use them for more than 3 days.

There are prescription nasal sprays that are safe for longer term use.>

Thanks for the heads up , again I wonder why my DR didn't convey this
Allen

[sewsleepy]

Don't know if this will help for you but I suffer from very dry mouth myself and my dentist recommended simply chewing a pc of sugarless gum right before bed. The sugarfree sweeteners cause the mouth to water. I find that if I do this, it really helps. Biotene makes me gag so I was glad to have another option.