Mouth dryness

"Although I understand your skepticism, a one night oximetry after you start taping the mouth won't tell the whole picture. Assuming taping the mouth does have an effect (which I'm frankly not sure), it may take sometime before a statistically meaningful change is detected. Also it may take monitoring for a few days rather than just one night to confirm that there has been a change.

I'm personally against taping the mouth because it is not very hygenic. The inside surface of the tape wil be a breeding ground for bacteria. A few of my patients are also allergic to the tape."

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With that approach, how then does one determine the type of apnea one has and the treatment a pt. receives if not based on a one night titration? My pulmonologist asked for the oximetry for one night. In retrospect, I was prescribed the machine, the mask and the pressure limits based on one sleep study. People can say this or that won't work but they seldom come up with a solutiion to help. Taping lowered my episodes of apnea and I know subjectively I am getting better sleep. Of course, not every technique works for everyone as this board proves every day.

Using ONE new piece of tape each night seems to me to be as much a potential breeding ground for bacteria as breathing into a plastic device is every night.

quilterB wrote:Tooly,
I am a little confused. Does a person have mouth leaks if they use the hybrid? I thought that was the thought behind the hybrid, that it was a combination of the 2 so that if you did breathe through your mouth it would not affect your therapy since it also has the nasal pillows. I definitely breathe through my mouth with my hybrid. Even more since I cut the chin strap off.

Don't worry, the Hybrid works like a FF Mask. You won't have mouth leaks if you are wearing the Hybrid and getting a decent seal.

beneyw wrote:"

Using ONE new piece of tape each night seems to me to be as much a potential breeding ground for bacteria as breathing into a plastic device is every night.

The main difference between the 2 situations is that in the case of the platic device (oral/FF mask), there is air constantly flowing in and out and this prevents bacteria build up to a certain degree.

Let's be realistic...the issue of bacteria on tape is not one that worries me..and as I said...people need permanent solutions to their mask problems and until someone develops one, ingenuity dominates. I have yet to have my DME make any suggestions for mouth breathing beyond a chin strap which to most of us is a sad hoax.

maskjkie wrote:

quilterB wrote:Tooly,
I am a little confused. Does a person have mouth leaks if they use the hybrid? I thought that was the thought behind the hybrid, that it was a combination of the 2 so that if you did breathe through your mouth it would not affect your therapy since it also has the nasal pillows. I definitely breathe through my mouth with my hybrid. Even more since I cut the chin strap off.

Don't worry, the Hybrid works like a FF Mask. You won't have mouth leaks if you are wearing the Hybrid and getting a decent seal.

I played around last night before going to sleep the and this is what I noticed.
If my chin flap is not positioned correctly it will allow my mouth to hang open inside the mask of course.
Just as I was falling asleep I was awakened by a strange sensation one I have never experienced with any of my other FF masks(3 of them).
Air was rushing out of my mouth and back into the Hybrid.
It felt very much like the time I tried a nasal interface.
While breathing normally through my nose there was air pouring out of my mouth.
I continued like this for a few minutes until i felt my lips getting dry not wanting to have to get up I readjusted my chin flap to the position where it closes my mouth and went to sleep.
I woke up with no dryness.
My conclusion is that yes you can have a "mouth leak" with the Hybrid but since it is leaking back into the mask it shouldn't make a difference but it will dry your mouth out.
If it happens with any frequency I will try the Oral B stuff no big deal.

maskjie; I'm personally against taping the mouth because it is not very hygenic. The inside surface of the tape wil be a breeding ground for bacteria. A few of my patients are also allergic to the tape.

Allergy to tape would definately be a reason not to tape.

Please explain your bacterial breeding ground comment-the human mouth IS a bacterial breeding ground-why would the tape make it that much worse. For the most part it would be my own bacteria that normally resides in my mouth. I am against taping for myself for other reasons-and most people here know I am a firm believer in the germ theory and believe that they are capable of amazing feats-but I can't see them using the tape for a breeding ground. I woundn't reuse the tape and I wouldn't tape over cracks, chapped lips, cold sores. or herpes lesions.

I agree...some people use plastic retainers if they had orthodontic work and wear it at night while sleeping. Can you imagine the bacteria on that sucker in the morning? Once again, people can rush to tell you 'theories' as to what won't work or is bad for you and yet, they themselves have no solution. The people who post here regularly have learned through trial and error and MONEY thanks to some so called professionals with little to offer in the way of alternatives. If DME's or docs would fit a person properly with the appropriate mask this board would not be as important as it is.

The mouth dryness problem is a serious one for some people and I applaud the 'experts' in here for their ingenuity.