Mouth Tape Recommendations

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What have folks here found to be the best mouth tape, one that doesn't come off but yet doesn't damage your skin?

I wear a Hybrid, which has nasal pillows and an oral cushion. I wake up several times a night with my lips parted, my tongue basically glued to the roof of my mouth, cheeks stuck to gums/teeth, and miserably dry to the point of being painful. (I am breathing through my nose, as my tongue being stuck to the roof of my mouth blocks the ability to mouth breathe.) I have to drink something in order to fix it so I can go back to sleep.

I have the humidifier to the point where I have moisture in my mask--not a lot, but some--and I have to put water in the humidifier in the middle of the night or it goes dry before morning (and then smells awful). Chin straps I've tried don't help because I am still able to part my lips even if the chin stays in place. I have also tried XyliMels at night (they are made to stick to you gums) for the dry mouth, and they make me nauseous for some reason.

I have had such a problem with cavities for years even with good oral hygiene. Two different dentists believe it's mostly because of my dry mouth at night. I need to try to get a handle on this as eventually I end up needing to have teeth pulled, and that needs to stop. (Had my third one extracted a few weeks ago.)

Would love some suggestions.

Medical tapes are the place to look. One commonly suggested is BSN Medical Cover Roll Stretch tape. My experience is that is worked OK, but usually absorbed some saliva by morning and started to release at the corners of my mouth. Best results by far was with kinesiology tape. Two rolls of the Ckeep brand from the big online market place is $10-$12. It doesn't absorb water and peels off without too much effort in the morning. If you find it sticking to your lips, use a small amount of Chapstick before applying it. Another skin protector that works in small quantities is 3M Cavilon Durable Barrier Cream.
Taping your mouth takes a little getting used to. I would suggest a single vertical strip to start with. Once you get used to that, a horizontal strip wide enough to cover the corners of your mouth by about 3/4" is the most effective way to prevent mouth leakage during deep sleep.
Another suggestion, fold over an edge or corner before you apply the tape to give you a place to grab when you want to remove the tape.

I'm a terrible mouth leaker, and I know exactly what you feel when you mouth is all dry and you tongue sticks like that to roof of your mouth.

I get that when I use a pillows mask, and don't tape my lips.

I never ever get that kind of dry mouth when I use a hybrid mask.
My mouth does get a little dry sometimes when my hybrid mask leaks and that happens rarely.

I don't think your open mouth is what's causing your problem - I think your mask is leaking, and leaking badly. That is also the reason your humidifier empties out so quickly.
If you're still using the Innomed Hybrid mentioned in your profile - long out of production - get a new hybrid type mask ASAP. Nowadays, more than one company makes hybrid type masks, and some make more than one model.
You will have to try different masks, and watch their fitting instructions carefully. Try to let your jaw drop when you're fitting the mask to see if the mask leaks, and if it does, find a way of fitting that handles open lips or a dropped jaw. And make sure you fit the mask when you're lying down.

There is no way a that amount of dryness in mouth and humidifier occurs when a mask fits properly. A mask that fits properly has your open mouth full of pressurized, humidified air. A mask that leaks has the air rushing through your mouth and out into the room, drying your mouth and tongue just like a brisk wind dries laundry.

I thought since Oscar rarely showed any large leaks that that wouldn't be the problem, but I guess it could be leaking a little bit for a long time? Yeah, I am really bummed about the discontinuation of the Hybrid. It's only mask I've ever been able to tolerate, but have to admit I haven't tried very many in a long time. I have the Amara view, two sizes, but can't get that one to not leak.

You mentioned using a hybrid mask, which one do you use? Looking now at some hybrid masks on cpap.com, it's hard to know what size to get. Evora Full Face has a fit pack will all sizes, so I might start there. (I use the small oral cushion for Innomed Hybrid, but I guess that doesn't necessarily correlate to other masks.) I will have to get them at cpap.com (where I have my old prescription) and use the 30-day return thing if they don't fit. It's going to be a long while until my sleep doc appointment, unfortunately, and don't have a DME provider locally that I can go to until then because my last cpap/mask prescription is so old.

Thanks for all your insights and advice, ozij!

I switched from the Innomed Hybrid to ResMed's F30, and am very happy with it - much quieter than the Innomed, and easier to sleep with since it doesn't blow air in strong streams the made me have to place my head "just so" to avoid the blowing on my arm, blankets etc.
Haven't tried any of the other ones.

As for size - some of the masks have sizing charts you can print out and use.

WearyOne wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 17, 2025 9:26 pm

I thought since Oscar rarely showed any large leaks that that wouldn't be the problem

OSCAR's "large leaks" are those the impact the machine's ability to identify your apneas, but the leaks that can wreak havoc on our mouths can be lower than the machine maker's definition of "large".

There is really no point in using a hybrid/FF mask, if you are going to mouthtape.

Mouthtape with a P30i if you like nasal pillows, or the N30i if you prefer cradle.

I like the Cover Roll stretch - 2in x 10yard. Cheap, convenient, sticks well.

https://www.amazon.com/Cover-Roll-Stret ... 01F9JFBBY/

ozij wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 18, 2025 12:34 am

I switched from the Innomed Hybrid to ResMed's F30, and am very happy with it - much quieter than the Innomed, and easier to sleep with since it doesn't blow air in strong streams the made me have to place my head "just so" to avoid the blowing on my arm, blankets etc.
Haven't tried any of the other ones.

As for size - some of the masks have sizing charts you can print out and use.

WearyOne wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 17, 2025 9:26 pm

I thought since Oscar rarely showed any large leaks that that wouldn't be the problem

OSCAR's "large leaks" are those the impact the machine's ability to identify your apneas, but the leaks that can wreak havoc on our mouths can be lower than the machine maker's definition of "large".

I looked at the F30, and it looks like what I want to try. I printed out the sizing page which hopefully is accurate. I always seem to come right at edge between one size and the next whenever I print out sizing things, so never sure which one would be best. Same for this.

And I didn't know that about the "large leak" in Oscar. Thanks for clarifying.

Out of three tapes, I found Cover Roll to be the best sticking and lowest priced. It did better than Pap Md, and another medical tape, but unfortunately for me nothing will keep my mouth shut during sleep.

Taping with Cover Roll brand may work to keep your mouth from opening but it may not. I have had desert dry mouth for 18 years of PAP therapy, tried everything (collar, tape, chin strap, mouth appliance) and nothing was effective. It is only when I roll to my back during sleep that I mouth to breathe and I can't prevent that either but maybe a wedge pillow or other trick to prevent rolling to the supine position may work for you.

Humidity is not working properly if your tank runs out of water and the highest humidity will not prevent dry mouth.

Something that has worked when all else fails for some is a mouthpiece that goes in the mouth and also covers the lips. For me...useless.

There has been a bit of tooth decay for me during these years of PAP therapy but I cannot say those 3 fillings over 18 years were due to dry mouth.

ejbpesca wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 23, 2025 1:31 pm

Out of three tapes, I found Cover Roll to be the best sticking and lowest priced. It did better than Pap Md, and another medical tape, but unfortunately for me nothing will keep my mouth shut during sleep.

Taping with Cover Roll brand may work to keep your mouth from opening but it may not. I have had desert dry mouth for 18 years of PAP therapy, tried everything (collar, tape, chin strap, mouth appliance) and nothing was effective. It is only when I roll to my back during sleep that I mouth to breathe and I can't prevent that either but maybe a wedge pillow or other trick to prevent rolling to the supine position may work for you.

Humidity is not working properly if your tank runs out of water and the highest humidity will not prevent dry mouth.

Something that has worked when all else fails for some is a mouthpiece that goes in the mouth and also covers the lips. For me...useless.

There has been a bit of tooth decay for me during these years of PAP therapy but I cannot say those 3 fillings over 18 years were due to dry mouth.

I already use a wedge and have for years due to silent reflux (LPR).

As the outside temperature gets warmer here, the humidity starts to jump up. When that happens, the machine doesn't run dry out. And I've noticed in the last few days that that is the case, and also my dry mouth is much better. Still there, but actually not that noticeable and certainly not painful. We have a small room humidifier that I've tried in the winter, but it doesn't do much. Maybe getting a good room humidifier made for a larger area to use in the winter would be the way to go. I never wake up on my back or go to sleep that way, but who knows what I do when I'm asleep!

Thanks for sharing this information!

So sorry you're having so much trouble with dry mouth! It's frustrating to say the least.