Mouth taping

[zbmidad]

I'm 3 months into using bi-pap pressure of 19/13. My question is how is the tape put over the mouth? I have a chin strap but it cuts into my chin and I end up opening my mouth anyway. I have a full face mask, the simplus.

[JDS74]

With a FFM, there is no need to tape, the mouth is covered.
If you are having problems with jaw drop causing leaks, try getting a soft cervical collar that supports your jaw from below.
That stopped all jaw drop leaks for me even though I use a very different mask.

[zbmidad]

Thanks, I knew (thanks to this board) that I shouldn't need to worry about my jaw drop/mouth opening. But it does pretty often and I get really dried out. I was going to try the tape to see if that would help at all.

[meagain]

I just use a single short vertical piece of tape in the center of my lips (HD silk tape) to encourage my lips from falling open...it works and not bothersome.

[echo]

You can also try a Papcap - i find that it needs less pressure than a normal chinstrap to work.

[zbmidad]

thanks for the input, going to try tape tonight. looked at papcap, my try that in future.

[butterflygal]

I ran across a YouTube video the other day on how to make your own chin strap; it looks like it should work well, and cheaper than any you could buy. It was a ball cap with the bill cut off and non-stretch velcro... I didn't think to save the web address but shouldn't be hard to find it. I'm going to do a modified version of it with a cap I already have, so I don't have to deal with taking the bill off.

[MaryGordon]

I tried mouth taping - and still got a very, very dry mouth.
Thanks to suggestions on this board I am using a Ruby Red chinstrap and seem to be doing pretty well : still have some dry mouth, but as far as I am aware other effects of jaw drop are ended. I no longer wake up with air rushing out of my mouth instead of going down the windpipe But it is early days: I've only been using it for 2 nights, but it is two nights with which I am very happy.
I have found, though, a way to move my tongue which stimulates saliva glands when I am awakened by extremely dry mouth. It involves rolling the sides of the tongue along the length towards the middle. So far it has produced enough saliva to re-lubricate and the saliva can be moved around the mouth with the tip of the tongue, including between teeth and cheeks. It's not ideal perhaps, but way better than waking up, de-masking, having a drink and starting all over again...

[zbmidad]

Just an update, I've taped my mouth shut a few nights in a row. No dry mouth and it really hasn't bothered me much. I looked at the papcap, I may try it. I'll update if I do.
Thanks to all for info.

[Stevoreno_55]

Isn't taping your mouth dangerous? I'm a mouth breather and have tried the chin strap but my left nostril which has a deviated septum(sp?) stops up every night and I usually wake up with a very dry mouth. I've tried FF masks but my mouth still opens while wearing a FF mask and when I wake up in the morning the inside of my mouth feels like it's been scrubbed with a Brillo pad. My pressure is 18cm.



Stevoreno_55
MS Gulf Coast
04/06/14

[Sir NoddinOff]

This is something I wrote around Christmas, maybe it will be useful to somebody. I happen to think it makes mouth taping a lot safer, but that's just my opinion:

This is mainly for nasal mask users. Here's how I use 3M NexCare multipore plastic tape to tape my mouth by using a 'rip-away slit' which makes taping as safe as a chinstrap. I know, a big claim but give it a try!

Here's how I do it. I put a long strip completely over my lips in a horizontal fashion while compressing my lips firmly together... I fold over pull-off tabs at either end, just for ease of removal. Next I take a VERY dull steak knife with a somewhat blunted point which I keep in a bedstand drawer and carefully cut a horizontal slit about a 1/2 inch long (while the tape is on my lips) in the middle of the tape where the center of my lips seal together. The blade is so dull it doesn't damage my lips at all; it's a very dull knife but you do need a bit of a dull point to get thru the tape. A butter knife just doesn't seem to work.

Here's the beauty part: If I have to get my mouth open quickly (only once in a year have I had to do this) all I have to do is force my lips apart and typically the tape easily rips itself down each side of the slit and my mouth pops completely open. I also do this every morning to get the tape off and only about 5% of the time does the tape resist splitting... if that happens all I have to do is force the tip of my tongue between my lips and out thru the slit OR poke the slit with the tip of a finger - then it easily rips apart. It comes off very nicely in the morning with no pain. Another good point: If I need to take a pill in the middle of the night it's convenient because I just slip it thru the slit and use a soda straw and water to swallow it. Try this method while awake the first time and I think you'll find it's pretty easy to do. I use straight Palmolive dishwashing soap to get any sticky residue off of my face and leave it on for a few minutes while I make tea or whatever. BTW, I've never had any leaks thru my mouth or lips using this method. CAUTION: I wouldn't try this with any other tape than the 3M tape I mentioned (like medical or sports tape) because I don't know how easily it'd rip. Also, don't cover up the half inch slit with another piece of tape or you've just defeated the whole method!!! Final tip: to get the tape to stick all night wash your face with soap and water and rinse repeatedly then dry thoroughly. Don't use soap with any lotion in it. Try this technique and tell if it doesn't work for you, also tell me if it works

[NateS]

I found that a headband like this one, pulled down over my mouth, works as well as or better than taping, particularly since I don't like pulling tape off my moustache and beard.



Instead of over my forehead, I slide it down over my mouth, held in place with my old Ruby chinstrap, to keep it from slipping downward during the night.

I was previously using a wider velcro-closured headband, but this narrower width fits better, and the very slight elastic pressure seems to remind my mouth to stay shut while I am sleeping. It's not uncomfortable.

It works to keep my leak chart way down below the red line.

Regards, Nate

[droberts]

This is something I wrote around Christmas, maybe it will be useful to somebody. I happen to think it makes mouth taping a lot safer, but that's just my opinion:

This is mainly for nasal mask users. Here's how I use 3M NexCare multipore plastic tape to tape my mouth by using a 'rip-away slit' which makes taping as safe as a chinstrap. I know, a big claim but give it a try!

Here's how I do it. I put a long strip completely over my lips in a horizontal fashion while compressing my lips firmly together... I fold over pull-off tabs at either end, just for ease of removal. Next I take a VERY dull steak knife with a somewhat blunted point which I keep in a bedstand drawer and carefully cut a horizontal slit about a 1/2 inch long (while the tape is on my lips) in the middle of the tape where the center of my lips seal together. The blade is so dull it doesn't damage my lips at all; it's a very dull knife but you do need a bit of a dull point to get thru the tape. A butter knife just doesn't seem to work.

Here's the beauty part: If I have to get my mouth open quickly (only once in a year have I had to do this) all I have to do is force my lips apart and typically the tape easily rips itself down each side of the slit and my mouth pops completely open. I also do this every morning to get the tape off and only about 5% of the time does the tape resist splitting... if that happens all I have to do is force the tip of my tongue between my lips and out thru the slit OR poke the slit with the tip of a finger - then it easily rips apart. It comes off very nicely in the morning with no pain. Another good point: If I need to take a pill in the middle of the night it's convenient because I just slip it thru the slit and use a soda straw and water to swallow it. Try this method while awake the first time and I think you'll find it's pretty easy to do. I use straight Palmolive dishwashing soap to get any sticky residue off of my face and leave it on for a few minutes while I make tea or whatever. BTW, I've never had any leaks thru my mouth or lips using this method. CAUTION: I wouldn't try this with any other tape than the 3M tape I mentioned (like medical or sports tape) because I don't know how easily it'd rip. Also, don't cover up the half inch slit with another piece of tape or you've just defeated the whole method!!! Final tip: to get the tape to stick all night wash your face with soap and water and rinse repeatedly then dry thoroughly. Don't use soap with any lotion in it. Try this technique and tell if it doesn't work for you, also tell me if it works

Just came across this post. I might give this a try to see if this helps with my throat tightness issue. Presumably this slit will allow some air to escape if it needs to - is that correct? What led you to doing this in the first place?

[Jim-Bob]

Isn't taping your mouth dangerous? I'm a mouth breather and have tried the chin strap but my left nostril which has a deviated septum(sp?) stops up every night and I usually wake up with a very dry mouth. I've tried FF masks but my mouth still opens while wearing a FF mask and when I wake up in the morning the inside of my mouth feels like it's been scrubbed with a Brillo pad. My pressure is 18cm.

Unless you use some kind of super-strength tape, you should be able to get your mouth open just by a quick push of your tongue. That's how I get my mouth tape off every morning.

[Stevoreno_55]

Isn't taping your mouth dangerous? I'm a mouth breather and have tried the chin strap but my left nostril which has a deviated septum(sp?) stops up every night and I usually wake up with a very dry mouth. I've tried FF masks but my mouth still opens while wearing a FF mask and when I wake up in the morning the inside of my mouth feels like it's been scrubbed with a Brillo pad. My pressure is 18cm.

Unless you use some kind of super-strength tape, you should be able to get your mouth open just by a quick push of your tongue. That's how I get my mouth tape off every morning.

I was thinking something along the line of a medical tape; not a package sealing tape. I've never tried it and still think it could be dangerous for me.

OT: I've been using a ResMed S9 Elite with HH loaner from my DME for the last 4 nights; the DME set the HH to 4; last night I woke up and wanted to up the HH's setting to 6; I couldn't do it because the S9 said "cooling down" and wouldn't let me change the setting. My P.R. DS400S will allow me to change my setting in an instant simply by reaching over and turning the dial up or down. I wonder if the P.R. DS460S has a similar "cooling down" feature and will not allow you to change it's HH setting instantly? Something I need to consider before deciding which new machine to go with.



Stevoreno_55
MS Gulf Coast
04/07/14