Air bubbles expelling from mouth

I’ve been on a CPAP for 15 years with no problems. Recently air bubbles have begun forming in my chheks or under my lips and expelling through my mouth with popping sounds. I also have a great deal of problems falling asleep so this happens during the hour to two hours where I am trying to fall asleep. It certainly does it help in my attempts to fall asleep. I understand this might be called chipmunk cheeks. I Think of it mouth farts which is unappealing but seems accurate. In an attempt to cure this problem I have access to therapy menu and change things around including the pressure after my smartest friend suggested the pressure was too high and this was causing my problem.

Congratulations on your long-term use of CPAP! One preliminary question: did your AHI change after you changed your pressure settings?

About the air in your mouth. Chipmunk cheeks are when air blows your cheeks up like a balloon. That may be happening to you before you experience the mouth farts, or not.

Over time, many things about the human body can change, and it's hard to know what change might be producing this annoyance for you. But here is something you can try in order to address it.

Position your tongue so the tip is behind your front teeth. Let the rest of your tongue spread out from side to side between your top molars. Now make a suck or swallow motion in order to create a little suction between your tongue and the roof of your mouth.

You can check whether you've got this right by opening your mouth and seeing whether you continue to breath through your nose. If yes, you've got it!

By practicing this during the day and putting your tongue in place when you settle in to sleep, you may be able to solve your problem, if not immediately, then with a little time. If you sense that your jaw is dropping and breaking the suction, you may need to try wearing a soft cervical collar to support your jaw.

Jackiehmc wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 27, 2020 2:25 am

have access to therapy menu and change things around including the pressure after my smartest friend suggested the pressure was too high and this was causing my problem.

Your friend is wrong. What you are describing isn't from the pressure being too high and if you reduced the pressure then you risk using a sub optimal pressure that is allowing apnea events to happen.

It's from air entering your mouth because the back door to the airway is open. Closing that back door and having it stay closed isn't always so easy. Air goes up your nose and down the airway and tries to sneak into the mouth the first chance it gets. It is a variation of chipmunk cheeks.

Also, the bubbles may be forming because your saliva has become viscous.
This is a symptom of dehydration, which can aggravate many things.
Get enough water to drink.

Regarding dehydration – this is a very good point. I thank you for raising it. I have been on a weight-loss journey for a year and have used diet soft drinks which may be contributing to this problem. I’m going to work on drinking more water or water only.

Regarding lowering the pressure on the machine – I believe the poster is correct in saying this was an incorrect approach. I have monitored AHI and seen changes good and bad. I have adjusted the pressure back up. The back door description is apt and I believe this makes sense completely. I’m not sure how to fix it though. Or if it will just have to be tolerated.

To Miss Emeritus- Thank you so much for your thoughts. You are absolutely right that over time the body changes. As I have entered my mid 60s I have noticed as most to do that my neck muscles are slack and my neck looks like very old lady. I have wondered if this might contribute to my newfound issues. I appreciate the tip about tongue placement. I have saved your instructions and will work on that. I am new to this forum and uncertain if the right people are seeing my replies to their message. If you see this, miss emeritus , could you please reply that you did. Interesting thought about the cervical collar. Honestly I am not sure I could tolerate one more thing on my head or face while trying to sleep. I’m sure you understand LOL. But it’s definitely a thought and if it gets worse something to consider. Because I’m doing this on mobile I’m trying to remember all the points you made and respond to them so this reply may seem disjointed. But yes my AHI went up when I adjusted pressure lower, so I readjusted it in a H I went back down to acceptable level.