can't stop breathing through mouth - need help

GeneS · Post by **GeneS** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 6:16 am

Testing to see if I can Post here?

Sleepy-eyes · Post by **Sleepy-eyes** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:27 am

I really don't want to make "light" of a serious subject, but I'm beginning to think the only way to guarantee tight lips is to sew them together!!!!! I finally made a chin "cup" with two straps.............one to go over the head to hold the chin up, and the other around the back of the neck to hold the mouth shut. Works GREAT!!!!!!! Feel AWFUL by morning. (Where's my needle, where's my needle?)

GeneS · Post by **GeneS** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:15 pm

I have used cpap from the beginning. Late 70's or so. Mouth breathing is a serious problem because cpap does not work when you breath through your mouth without a full face mask.

I found a solution that works well for me. I have used it for 5 to 10 years.

I use a nasal mask, a snorban dental device, and a chin strap at the same time. The snorban device device used to cost about $30.00 at Walgreens. I still think it is available on the internet although I have not checked lately. The snorban device is dipped in hot water then put in the mouth and it forms to conform to the mouth and then cools and hardens. It helps to keeps air from escaping through the mouth plus it helps hold the jaw forward since the chin strap tends to push the jaw back and further close the airway. It takes a little while to get used to because it closes off the mouth but I found that it is easy to open your mouth and breath if you need to.

I do not know if this will work for you and you should check with your doctor since I am not a doctor. I doubt if he has any experience with this.

Gene

birdshell · Post by **birdshell** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 2:02 pm

Rested Gal--Laura compiled this list. One of the links is to a method of making your own tongue restraint from boil 'n' bite mouth guards available cheaply at drug stores, etc.

Laura's Comprehensive List:

Click Here for Links to: Mouth leaks - Air Leaks - Tape - DIY Guard

Sleepy-eyes · Post by **Sleepy-eyes** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 2:11 pm

Be mindful................if you wear dentures, a mouthpiece will be useless unless you have at least 3 teeth on both upper and lower. A mouthpiece cannot anchor to gums!

GeneS · Post by **GeneS** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 3:08 pm

I still have either my teeth or caps plus a bridge or to so I can wear a snorban. The Snorban is low cost but is equal in quality to the $350 dental device that my dentist made for me some years ago. I think the dental device had a slot so it was not air tight. The snorban does not have a slot so it holds air. Both devices were made of what appeared to be silicone or similar composition. I do not remember now. They are soft enough to keep from irritating my gums. I have not seen the other forum. I just found the website and this is one of my first posts.

Gene

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 3:41 pm

GeneS, are you a distributor of Snorban? All of your posts are recommending it to people. That appears to be the sole purpose of your posts.

roster · Post by **roster** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 4:11 pm

Linda3032 wrote:GeneS, are you a distributor of Snorban? All of your posts are recommending it to people. That appears to be the sole purpose of your posts.

Read the information on their site http://www.snorban.com/.

They have some spunk and are getting around the FDA. I particularly get a kick out of the statement, ""He likes his teeth protected when he dreams he is a boxer".

GeneS · Post by **GeneS** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 8:05 pm

I have no connection with snorban. I am not sure they are still in business. I am a Civil Engineer not a snorban salesman. I only know that the Snorban works well for me. I am not sure it will work well for you. I think that these forums are a good idea because apenea patients can share experiences and help each other out. I hope that someone benefits from my posts. I am sure I will learn things to help me.

Gene

GeneS · Post by **GeneS** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 8:20 pm

I just looked at the Snorban Link that was posted. I am glad they are still there because I will likely need to buy one in the future. The snorban alone did not stop my sleep apnea or eliminate all my snoring but when used at the same time as my cpap it helped eliminate mouth breathing and did hold my jaw forward. A number of years ago I had an operation (mandular advance ?) to move my tongue forward so it doesn't make sense to let the chin strap move my chin back reversing the benefit from the surgery.

Gene

oceanpearl · Post by **oceanpearl** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 2:29 pm

Bought a 2" wide roll of Ace Bandage, cut it to length and stapled it into a loop to cover my chin and go over the top of my head. The las 3 nights are the first time in ages that I haven't awakened every hour with "Sahara mouth".

can't stop breathing through mouth - need help

Mouth Breathing