Eliminating mouth breathing at night

Is there anyone that has been successful in training the tongue to stay in the up position during sleep to prevent mouth breathing without a dental device? I know there are dental devices but I would prefer not to add them to the list. I don't particularly want to tape my mouth shut for the rest of my life and I don't want to be forced to use nothing but full face mask or a hybrid if I can learn to not mouth breath while sleeping.

Track, some people have reported being able to develop a habit of keeping their tongue in a position to maintain an airtight seal even when they are asleep. I think it probably has to do with the geometry of the inside of one's mouth, size of tongue, etc. A lot of factors play into whether one can successfully do that or not. I never could.

Here's a link to my attempts at training the tongue to stay put:
Aug 31 2004 subject: Mouth leak training wheels
http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/message-b ... php?t=3604

For some, just keeping the jaw up is enough to make the tongue seal well. For others, the architecture of the mouth means that chin straps to hold the jaw up do nothing to prevent mouth air leaks.

Bones had an interesting theory that I think might be true for some people...that pressure set too low to keep the throat well and truly splinted open might be responsible for causing air to detour out the mouth, as the blocked air's gotta go somewhere:
viewtopic.php?t=16909

Here is a main link to mouth leak topics:
Links to: Mouth leaks - Air Leaks - Tape - DIY Guard
viewtopic.php?t=8011

You've probably already dug into those topics, track. Just adding the link for newer people who might wonder what we're talking about.... "tape? dental devices?"

I go the tape route. Some nights, I use a homemade "DIY" mouthguard thingy that works quite well.

Thanks for all the links, rested gal. I should have known this topic had been discussed before on this forum ....it seems like you folks have covered about everything at least once. I don't really mind a full face mask except for the leaks...but then I am using a medium resmed mirage when I measure for a large so maybe that's why. My nasal mask has far fewer leaks but I have to tape the mouth shut and it's not as comfortable as the ffm. I have the new Opus nose pillow mask on order but that would involve taping too....just been thinking about canceling that order and getting another ffm or a hybrid...decisions decisions.lol

I taped my mouth for the first month or so, then got a righteous case of bronchitis so stopped so I could cough during the night, and found myself keeping my mouth shut. Haven't taped since and consider myself trained. But New machine, software, etc are on its way, so I might just be blowing smoke out my *** and think I've trained myself and the numbers will show differently. hehehe.

But, IF.. IF you take the words of my sleep study people that wired me up and my dme, they all said that you can train yourself to keep your mouth shut.. when i was bitching about that cheesy cheaply chinstrap they were putting on me.

Lyza....Did any of those experts give you any clues as to how a person trains themselves to keep the mouth closed?

I've been one of the fortunate few who's been able to avoid mouth breathing since my first week on xPAP, and I've never had to resort to the burdens of chin-straps, taping or Polident strips. I successfully use a ResMed Mirage Swift nasal pillows interface and consistently get 8+ hours of sleep every night (except if my stupid dog jumps on me in the middle of the night) with AHIs of <0.5.

I don't want to sound sanctimonious about this, and I consider my freedom from mouth breathing to be simply a blessing. I'm so good at it now that I can take sips of water, yell at my dumb dog, and even speak for a little while without having pressurized treatment air come gushing from my mouth.

The pity of it is though, that I couldn't begin to tell you how I do it. I think that its simply that I find the sensation of the air rushing out of my mouth to be so unpleasant that my body just took over and stopped it. Or, as RG so wisely points out, it may simply be a matter of my own particular mouth and throat architecture. But I ain't looking a gift horse in the mouth. I'm blessed with an absence of mouth-breathing and that has made my adjustment (and ENJOYMENT) of xPAP treatment SO MUCH easier for me than the travails that many of my friends here face and I read about here daily.

Do try to correspond with Dreamstalker. Roberto has also succeeded in training himself not to mouth-breathe, and has written some thoughtful words about how he accomplished this considerable feat.

Cheers!

Chuck

I hate to be glib about such a serious problem, but I've just about decided the solution is "needle and thread"!

After I gear up for the night and get all comfy in bed I place my tongue on the upper palate just behind the front teeth. My tongue doesn't actually touch my front teeth.. Just a bit further back.. Even if your mouth falls open you'll find you can't breathe thru your mouth with this setup. In fact as Im sitting here typing this, I'm realizing my tongue is in that exact position. I bet I am doing it all day long now and not even realizing it.

I know i'm going to mouth leak. It was one of two choices for me, try a hybrid or a bipap because I just cannot breath against the air all night without opening my mouth and leaking. Thank God for the hybrid. I actually love it.

I am a newbie. Just confirmed that I have OSA, and have used my equipment for 3 nights.

I awoke during last night three or four times, mouth dry, and air gushing out of my mouth. Chin strap was on, and jaw closed. The air simply parted my lips and went out. I continued to breath in and out through my nose. Does the above description fall within this subject heading?

Yes or no, can anyone give me any suggestions as to how to keep my lips sealed (prevent air from escaping through my lips) while sleeping?

If this message violates forum protocol, I apoligize.

Hiya snuggs,

Your comment about your experience with mouth air leaks and your question are perfectly acceptable...in this topic or any other. Don't ever worry about asking something anytime, anywhere.

If you'll click this "Mouth leaks" link, you'll get to read more than anyone could ever want to know about the trials and tribulations many of us go through trying to keep the treatment air going "the right way" and not out our mouths:
Links to: Mouth leaks - Air Leaks - Tape - DIY Guard
viewtopic.php?t=8011

Welcome to the message board, snuggs! Keep asking and keep reading!