New User Extreme Dry Mouth

[ckirkman]

I am a new user approaching the 60 day mark, and struggling. I didn't do very well the first 30 days, but have pushed to be compliant these last 30 days. I have only missed 3 days of use in the last 30 days, despite my issues. I am using a Phillips PR System One REMStar Bipap, with humidifier and an AirFit F10 full face mask. I have as a backup a Comfort Gell Blue full face mask they gave me at my titration study. I am a primary mouth breather and have been having terrible problems with dry mouth. The "compliance" people first kept making suggestions for changes to the humidifier, heat down, heat up, change the ambient air setting etc. and after weeks of those tweaks and no difference, I finally get told by the RT that the humifier only affects nasal dryness. Next they suggested Biotene mouth rinse, it does help some, but only for about 2 hours. After that I am waking up about every hour and my mouth is so dry, I literally have to peel my lips away from my teeth to get a sip of water in, without it running out of my mouth. Next they suggested a chin strap, which is helping some, but it arrived after my gums got so inflamed from the dry mouth, I actually got a gum abcess and had to go to the dentist for it. The chin strao if tight enough to be effective is bruising my chin. I have been lining it with gauze to cushion my chin, but I think my DME sent me the cheapest strap available and I am looking at others now on CPAP.com. Am I missing anything else you can suggest to try? I realize it can take several months to get used to this, and I am realy incented, I asked my Dr to order the study because my Mom has been telling me for several years that she hears me stop breathing when I spend the night at her house. I am not feeling any better yet, was hoping to have some more energy, but trying to be patient. I do know I have a high pressure setting as I apparently have a severe case and that might be making it worse.
Thanks
Cindi

[BlackSpinner]

Try and find the old version of Biotene and work with your dentist on this.

The chin strap helps best but you will have to play around with different makes. Sometimes the best is an Ace bandage. I found the innomed hybrid mask with the chin flap did the trick for me.

The pressure needed to keep your throat open has no relationship with the severity. You can be very very severe an only need 6 cm of pressure or very mild and need 18cm.

[library lady]

I have a very dry mouth, too. I also use AirFit F10 and this is how I solved it for myself: I found, at Target, a large double-walled mug with a cover and a straw. When I go to bed I fill it half-full of water and set it on a little Rubbermaid stool about 3 feet from the bed... in case I spill, I don't want the water going all over the machine. If I wake up needing water during the night, I turn the machine off, pull the connector off the mask, and get a few sips, pop the connector back on, turn machine on and go back to sleep. This method works especially well for me because my mouth is directly in line with the connector, but if your mouth doesn't line up well enough, you could get a flexible straw and probably make it reach your mouth.

Oddly, I'm not needing water much in the night now, and I'm not exactly sure why. It may be that I've simply gotten so used to the dry mouth that I'm not noticing it as much, or it could be that I've subconsciously taught myself to keep my mouth closed. I've noticed lately when I'm in bed but still awake that my tongue is always positioned on the roof of my mouth right in front of my upper teeth. I didn't consciously decide to do this, but since I've read the posts where others mention this trick often enough, my brain has probably learned that this is what I need to do.

[ckirkman]

Thanks for the suggestions. What do I look for to find the old version of Biotene? I really like the looks of the Innomed hybrid mask, I will call my DME today and see if they can get it for me, if not, I think I might just order from Cpap.com

Library lady, I usually go through 2 half liter water bottles every night, I have started using the straw through the connector to keep from having to take the mask off to get some water. My gums are not getting as inflamed with the chin strap, but it is still very uncomfortable having to wake up and sip water so often.

[jwerley]

I have been on cpap for 9 years now. I had that exact same problem when I started. I solved it by taping my mouth shut with Nexium gentle tape, 2" wide. I found that as time went by I didn't like having the tape on my lips, so I decided to try Chin-Ups. The tape goes just under your lower lip then you pull up on both sides to where your lips are pushed together very firmly. This works great for me. I buy the actual chin-ups from the company online, but if you didn't want to do that you could make your own out of tape. http://www.chinupstrip.com/ I have no interest in this company other than I am a very happy customer!
No more dry mouth. I also have to use my chin strap with this. I use the "Ruby" chin strap by "Puresom".

Hope this helps!

Janice

[ShelaghDB]

The "compliance" people first kept making suggestions for changes to the humidifier, heat down, heat up, change the ambient air setting etc. and after weeks of those tweaks and no difference,

LMAO

Sorry, I am not laughing at you. Your post is just F***king Brilliant!!
You just summed up one of the more annoying aspects of CPAP'ing.
That too many people should not be giving advice that are (myself included)

That being said, I don't advise as i am too new to it all but i can only share a similar experience.

Like you I am struggling with the dry mouth.
Have read about the BioTene having changed but yet to find better in the stores.
Bought a plastic cup today that LOOKS like one of those big clear plastic cups with a plastic top you snap on that will fall off very easily but in this case it only looks as if thats how you put it on but you really screw it on. That way you won't pick it up in the night, squeeze too hard and have the top pop out and all liquid shoot up and over the sides and down into your CPAP machine.........it has a straw, so you just take out the tube from the mask after reaching for it on the nightstand and take a sip when needed.
Saw another woman swear by that method so trying it out myself tonight while waiting for a chin strap to see IF that will work.

OOps, editing in afterwards-meant to say, a DOLLAR store is a great place to find these cups. Only $2 as opposed to a $1.....great buy for only $2 though


But something no one ever focuses on here and for that matter, I haven't seen it on any CPAP info page, is the DAMAGE a dry mouth does to your teeth after 40.
Accepting a dry mouth is not an option in my opinion.
But yet some do.
Speak to a dentist but teeth are at their healthiest when saliva is at normal amounts. But when abnormal, germs produce too rapidly and one can end up with untreatable gingivitis.


I have only JUST started to see a couple of TV commercials on this where I am within the last few months but I do wish dentists or CPAP doctors would make people aware of just how problematic a dry mouth can become.

I have spoken of this before briefly and had 3 guests, or regulars, Im not sure which, email me at home to chat about it as they too each said that no one seems to focus on this but its imperative to get under control.
I believe a cup of water beside the bed might be a good temporary fix but the ideal is learning somehow, anyhow to keep ones mouth closed, however that is accomplished.

Good Luck............im in the same boat as you......


edit:

Library Ladys post is where I got that idea about the water beside the bed, albeit in a much earlier post.
m trying it tonight and will see how it works at least until the chin strap arrives
if you are successful with a way, please post

[Stevoreno_55]

I keep a bottle of spring water near my bed but instead of the regular screw off cap it has a sports cap; much more convenient to use during the night than fumbling around with removing the screw on cap on most bottles of water. My Claritin makes my dry mouth problem worse; works good on my sinuses; the downside is it drys my mouth out big time.

[ShelaghDB]

It may be that I've simply gotten so used to the dry mouth that I'm not noticing it as much

As I am experiencing the same, Id guess that that is what it is for you, that you are just getting used to it.
I find myself doing that as well but I know that I can't have a dry mouth as it was the reason I was sent for a sleep apnea test TO FIND A WAY to hydrate my mouth, yet this is making it worse...like the OP here, trying different methods as my DME doesn't keep chin straps in stock for some bizarre reason so am waiting........i located a CPAP store near me and am going there tomorrow to buy one if they carry them.
But trying your cup and straw method tonight....

Library lady, I usually go through 2 half liter water bottles every night

Thats a LOT of water.
Im afraid to think of how many times u must need to wake up every night and toddle off to the loo........??!!
That in itself I think would be very disturbing to the sleep...

[ShelaghDB]

I have been on cpap for 9 years now. I had that exact same problem when I started. I solved it by taping my mouth shut with Nexium gentle tape, 2" wide. I found that as time went by I didn't like having the tape on my lips, so I decided to try Chin-Ups. The tape goes just under your lower lip then you pull up on both sides to where your lips are pushed together very firmly. This works great for me. I buy the actual chin-ups from the company online, but if you didn't want to do that you could make your own out of tape. http://www.chinupstrip.com/ I have no interest in this company other than I am a very happy customer!
No more dry mouth. I also have to use my chin strap with this. I use the "Ruby" chin strap by "Puresom".

Hope this helps!

Janice

Interesting.
Here is a Canadian supplier as it was the only one i could find for some of us up this way

http://www.nosnorezone.com/product/chin ... pkg-of-30/

Ive got to say though, they seem awfully expensive to me for what they are.
A pack of 30 for $15.95 US which means they will likely be about $17.50 here

I'm beginning to think CPAP companies are really "sticking it" to patients

[tmr]

I found that If I have leaks it will make my mouth dry. Even if you don't have leaks while awake you might have them while asleep, you can spot them out with the software. Mask liner might help with leaks, check pad a cheek liners.

[Jeannh]

I also suffer from a very, very dry mouth. I've tried every dry mouth product on the market, and like the "old" version of Biotene gel best.

What do I look for to find the old version of Biotene?

Where I live, it's gone. I have about 5-6 backup tubes, then I'm going to have to find a different solution. My experience:
- My dry mouth is not from mouth-breathing. Even if I tape (which is not as bad as it sounds), and the tape is not disturbed when I get up in the am, I still have a dry mouth. It's just very breezy in the back of my throat while I sleep.
- I've had luck with a water bottle and a hose with a bite valve (the kind you get at a sporting goods store for biking) at the same level as my head so I don't have to sit up to drink from it. But, too much water makes me have to get up to pee, so that's only helpful to a point.
- I've had some luck with a bite guard (for grinders), as it tends to make more saliva just by being in my mouth.
- I chew xylitol gum (original trident - it has an ADA label on the pack) very successfully during the day. The dentist doesn't want me to chew it at night, as he thinks it could be a choking hazard, but sometimes I do anyway.
- I work closely with my dentist and my periodontist, to be sure my gum tissue isn't in bad shape. I have a big investment in my mouth!

So, it's not a single solution for me. YMMV, so try different things. I also think maybe our mouths get drier as we age.
Good luck - let us know what works for you!

[ShelaghDB]

If you do a search on this forum, someone a few weeks ago gave me the name of another one that is now better than BioTene if I remember correctly.
I will try and do a search myself and see if i can come up with it.
I have been meaning to look it up again anyhow....

[chunkyfrog]

Someone mentioned CVS' "house" brand as more effective than the "new, improved" Biotene.
They did mention that the taste was somewhat unpleasant, but YMMV.

[ShelaghDB]

Someone mentioned CVS' "house" brand as more effective than the "new, improved" Biotene.
They did mention that the taste was somewhat unpleasant, but YMMV.

I think that might have been the post I am referring to but as one presently living in Canada, I don't remember which American store CVS refers to?
But I have been meaning to get around to re-reading that and looking into ordering some from Amazon, or some such place if i can't get it here.

[bwexler]

CVS is the name of a drug store in the US.
I don't know if it has a Canadian branch with some other name.