Learn not to mouth-breathe?

I'm new to CPAP - still in my first week and struggling a bit. My biggest issue is just dealing with the hose, but I'm confident I'll get past that. Secondarily, I find that although I mostly breathe through my nose, my mouth is popping open occasionally during the night.

I would prefer avoiding a full-face mask, chin strap, etc. I figure if I can learn how to sleep with a hose and junk crammed up my nose I ought to be able to retrain myself to not breathe out of my mouth.

So, my question is does anyone have any suggestions on how to change breathing habits? Right now I usually wake up when the blast of air starts blowing out of my mouth (or my wife elbows me when the noise changes). However, I can forsee myself learning to sleep through that.

I wish my CPAP machine would recognize a leak and sound an alarm - but it doesn't. One thought I had is to loosly tape my mouth; not enough to keep it completely close, but enough to make it uncomfortable enough to wake me if air was blowing out.

Thanks for any help.

(Oh, in keeping with what appears to be board custom: my CPAP machine is a Puritan-Bennett 420G and I'm using a Fisher & Paykel Infinity 481 direct nasal mask).

I am also a mouth breather which was part of the reason that my mouth would open. After 5 days on a nasal mask, I switched to a full face mask. (DME provider wanted to due chin strap, but I thought it would be easier to get comfortable with a new FF mask versus having two things on my head). Full Face mask solved my problems and is not that different than nasal mask. I have slept like a baby the last 8 nights only waking when I need to roll over.

Best of luck

Howard

I am a newbie too - about 1 1/2 months. I have had the same problems which drove me to a FF mask. However, I do have use nasal interfaces, and when I do, I have had to use tape AND a chin strap. I recently purchased an Auto machine and with the lower set pressures, I have been doing well with just tape (I actually woke up with the chin strap off the other night). I am going to try tonight without anything! I think it is a matter of time.

learning how to change your breathing doesnt sound like an easy thing to do I would think the full mask would be the way to go.

Yes, but for some people, using the FF mask night after night, leaves one with a very sore bridge of the nose. And, even to the point of breaking down.

I used a chin strap for the first month. Very uncomfortable. Had nasal pillow interface. I used tape over lips for a few nights and then decided to try it without anything., I concentrate on keeping the tip of my tongue against the back of my lower incisors. This seems to make my tongue seal against the roof of my mouth and even if my mouth does fall open there is no air coming out my mouth. (You have to try it to see what I mean).

For four months now I've had no mouth leaks.

I was very bad at first mouth breathing but when I switched to the Activa the bottom of the diaphram touches my mouth and I just willed myself to keep my mouth closed and pursing this piece. Over time, I have trained myself to keep my mouth closed. I also taped my mouth shut for a time. Now very rarely do I wake up with cotton mouth. I also use the Swift now and don't mouth breathe.

I am a new poster here, normally hanging out on another forum but refered by someone from there, so I thought I would just plunge in with just 1.5 years of CPAP experience.

Full face mask just doesn't work for me, so that was elminated. I did the chin strap route and quickly discovered even using it as a "lip strap" (pressure just under the lip) helped but didn't stop the leaks.

I think training the tongue is a good approach. Two different ways to approach THAT, with a back of tongue seal or front of tongue. Individuals vary on preference. Mine is back of the tongue. I start by sticking on the nasal interface and just practice dropping or swelling the tongue in the back (or sealing up front), while just sitting there awake with your mouth OPEN. After you can turn the air flow off and on like that, you can WORK ON trying to lay down and sleep that way, maybe even with a chin/lip strap or whatever while you try to make this as much a HABIT as teeth grinding or something.

Well that got it BETTER for me, but doesn't stop deep sleep leakage. Then someone came up with a Do It Yourself (DIY) mouthguard, which I ignored for a few months until I got into garage project mode and felt like dinking around with making a tongue positioner from a $3 sports guard, figuring for $3, What the heck! I basically made a whittled down "bite guard" (the TMJ teeth grinders know what that is) with a small chunk of its trimmings stuck as a "bridge" near the front to push the tongue up and/or back. I refined it a TINY bit, emphasizing the guide up as a ramp. It also tends to move the jaw forward a bit. I didn't think it would work at all when I had completed it. BUT WOW! it is AMAZING! I have tossed away the chin strap, and my leakage is pretty much non-existent and as are my AHI numbers now. Definitely worth $3 and a saturday in the garage!

Here's a clickable link to the topic about the mouthguard solution to getting the tongue to maintain a seal against mouth air leaks. Pictures of snork's version are on page 3, I think, of the 4 page topic:

Topic started by "frequenseeker" Dec 01 2004 subject: mouth leak solution, cheap DIY oral appliance Dec 01 2004

This is my first post. I'm a relatively new CPAP user (2-3 months) I've been visiting for a few weeks seeking information about CPAP. This has been a great source for information.

At first my CPAP was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I noticed that I gritted my teeth, though, to stop my mouth breathing. Consequently, I woke in the mornings with very sore jaws. So I "retrained" myself to relax my jaw. It took me a week or so, but I've been able to relax. This, I think is turning out to be a big mistake.

Ever since then on a gradual basis, I've been swallowing more and more air. I could figure out why I wanted to belch and pass gas after waking up. It's gradually gotten worse. I have sense figured out (by coming here and reading posts) that it is a common condition. But I have taken all I can stand. I had my worst night last night. I apparently slept with my mouth open most of the night, and apparently also swallowed enough air to give me tremendous pains this morning. I could not stand upright. Two gas-x pills and an hour or so rocking in my rocking chair help to dislodge the trapped gas and air.

Now I am sooooo very tired. I feel as though I have air trapped in my chest. I just want to cry, I don't feel good.

I called my sleep center last week to seek out some advice and spoke to my CPAP "person." I guess they are the person you direct your CPAP questions to. She was basically no help. She stated I should not sleep on my side, that allows the jaw to drop back and create the obstruction. I thought sleeping on your back is where the obstructive problem begins.

I really want to get back in good terms with my CPAP machine. I've finally had restful nights. But now I don't want to sleep with it at all. Not if this continues to get worse. Is it a consensus that a full-face mask would help to solve this problem?

She stated I should not sleep on my side, that allows the jaw to drop back and create the obstruction. I thought sleeping on your back is where the obstructive problem begins.

You are right. She is wrong. Isn't it reassuring to have a "professional" like her advising you?

Finally Sleeping,

I hope you are able to try some of these suggestions for fixing your mouth breathing problem. Please don't give up. I'm sure you'll find a solution that works for you. I just don't want to see anyone giving up. My brother gave up on his cpap, and I worry about him like crazy. He has a heart condition and I can't get him to see how important it could be to continue his cpap and that it just might make the difference in his health. So, please, don't give up. Try different things, but don't give up. We need you to be happy and healthy.


Linda,
who struggles too

Thank you very much for your replies and encouragement. I truly don't want to give up on my CPAP. I slept without it last night, it took me over an hour to get to sleep.

I won't give up. I had been sleeping so good before this started. I was so excited about "finally sleeping" that I chose it as my username!

I've learned a lot from this forum. I'm very glad it's here.