Is mouth open OK with full face mask?

Agape in Santa Cruz · Post by **Agape in Santa Cruz** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 11:13 am

I have RespironicsREMStarPlus M Series machine with a ResMed Ultra Mirage full face mask.

Sometimes when I wake up, I find that my mouth is open.

Is this OK, or should the mouth be kept closed with a chinstrap?

tooly125 · Post by **tooly125** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 11:35 am

Mouth open with a full face mask is fine.
Mouth open with a nasal interface is bad.
Thats why they make full face masks for those of us that can't keep our yaps shut

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 11:38 am

Yeah, that's OK......happens to me on occasion, too.
That's one of the advantages of using a Full Face mask.....you're "covered" either way and you're not losing your pressurized air out your mouth like you would be with a nasal mask. And, if you mouth-breathe inside the mask, that'll work, too.
It obviously woke you up at some point and you probably closed your mouth and went back to sleep. That's been my experience.

Hang in there.

Den

beneyw · Post by **beneyw** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 12:36 pm

tooly125 wrote:Mouth open with a full face mask is fine.
Mouth open with a nasal interface is bad.
Thats why they make full face masks for those of us that can't keep our yaps shut

Or, paper tape for those of us who cannot use a FF mask due to damn leaks..My Mirage Swift along with taping gives me decent results. The Hybrid for me has been a disaster...too many leaks at mouth interface.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 1:11 pm

Mouth breathing with FF Mask is Ok, but it's preferable to breath through your nose. You loose more moisture, when you breath through your mouth, the drying out can be incomfortable, but you still get the benefit. Jim

RAMBLINMAN · Post by **RAMBLINMAN** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 6:53 pm

Maybe I'm missing something but why is it better breathing thru your nose than your mouth...?

Isn't the air going thru the same path either way to get to your lungs....???

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 8:29 pm

RAMBLINMAN wrote:Maybe I'm missing something but why is it better breathing thru your nose than your mouth...?

Isn't the air going thru the same path either way to get to your lungs....???

Well, if you are using a nasal mask only (ie not covering your mouth) the treatment is not effective when your mouth is open because you cannot maintain the air pressure neccessary to keep your air path open and prevent the apnea.

If you are using a full face (FF) mask that covers your nose and mouth, keeping your mouth open can cause your mouth and throat to become uncomfortably dry although the treatment remains effective at preventing apnea (but the dry mouth/throat) may still prevent good sleep if it is causing you to wake up.

hope that helps ...

- roberto

roster · Post by **roster** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 5:05 am

RAMBLINMAN wrote:Maybe I'm missing something but why is it better breathing thru your nose than your mouth...?

Isn't the air going thru the same path either way to get to your lungs....???

Just google "nose breathing". There are dozens of sites listing reasons why breathing through the nose is healthier. Some of it is hype to sell products but some of it is probably true.

blew away · Post by **blew away** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 1:17 pm

we got a full face mask for my husband specifically because he was always breathing with his mouth open at night. bad when he had the nasal mask, no problem once the full mask arrived.

tlc95066 · Post by **tlc95066** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 7:31 pm

Hi Agape in Santa Cruz,

I just wanted to say hi and that I live in the Santa Cruz area too. I am the coordinator for the local AWAKE meeting in Santa Cruz. Our next meeting will be on 10/18. I hope you will consider attending the meeting.

Welcome to the forum! I wish I could answer your question but I can't... I use a flexifit 407 nasal mask. This is a great forum for information please let us know if you have any other questions!

Best Regards,
Teri

salmon · Post by **salmon** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 7:54 am

I have a F&P 431 full mask and love it, you can breathe through your mouth and still get the therapy (Was told this by a technician).
I have been wondering about what the long term effects are of your cheeks being puffed out due to the pressure? Seems like it could age you faster if your skin is stretched for that length of time. Any ideas?

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 8:24 am

salmon wrote:I have a F&P 431 full mask and love it, you can breathe through your mouth and still get the therapy (Was told this by a technician).
I have been wondering about what the long term effects are of your cheeks being puffed out due to the pressure? Seems like it could age you faster if your skin is stretched for that length of time. Any ideas?

But if you can't breath and die, how will your skin look. Jim

Is mouth open OK with full face mask?

Is mouth open OK with full face mask?

Breathing thru mouth not as good as thru nose

Re: Breathing thru mouth not as good as thru nose

Re: Breathing thru mouth not as good as thru nose