Mouth Tapers, Poligrippers: What is your process?

Hi all,

I've been on cpap for about a month now. I use nasal pillows and found that I leaked a lot of air out of my mouth. After finding then reading comments in this forum, I decided to try poligrip. It works quite well and stopped my mouth breathing, but I find the process a bit off-putting (I explain why below).

So, I'm trying to improve my method for sealing my lips, and I have a couple questions for mouth tapers and lip grippers that I'm hoping you can help me with:

1. Poligrip vs other dental grips: Does anyone have a preference? Why?

2. Poligrip cleanup: how do you minimize the amount of residue after you peel the grips off? How do you remove the residue from your lips??? (I've already torn my lips slightly trying to remove the strips and subsequent sticky residue that they leave)

3. Poligrip: how exactly do you put the strips on, take them off?

4: Mouth tapers: what exactly is your process. What tape, how administer, how remove, etc. (I'm considering switching from grip to tape because I very much dislike trying to remove the residue that the grips leave on my lips)

Thank you so much!

LINKS to: Mouth leaks - Air Leaks - Tape - DIY Guard
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[quote="Rico_B"]Hi all,

I've been on cpap for about a month now. I use nasal pillows and found that I leaked a lot of air out of my mouth. After finding then reading comments in this forum, I decided to try poligrip. It works quite well and stopped my mouth breathing, but I find the process a bit off-putting (I explain why below).

So, I'm trying to improve my method for sealing my lips, and I have a couple questions for mouth tapers and lip grippers that I'm hoping you can help me with:

1. Poligrip vs other dental grips: Does anyone have a preference? Why?

2. Poligrip cleanup: how do you minimize the amount of residue after you peel the grips off? How do you remove the residue from your lips??? (I've already torn my lips slightly trying to remove the strips and subsequent sticky residue that they leave)

3. Poligrip: how exactly do you put the strips on, take them off?

4: Mouth tapers: what exactly is your process. What tape, how administer, how remove, etc. (I'm considering switching from grip to tape because I very much dislike trying to remove the residue that the grips leave on my lips)

Thank you so much!

i use 3m paper surgical tape ,tears very easily there is no residue left on your face and if you wake up in a panic and have to open your mouth the tape will let go .what i do is tear off 2 6in or so strips making sure that i fold over one of the ends a bit then when my machine has started up and i feel comfortable i put the one over my upper lip then over lap the second piece by maybe 1/4 in so that icovers my bottom lip and sticks nicely just under my lip. when i wake up inm the morning just grab the folded over end and pull it off

I use Roosters method of taping. Works great for me! I use Kendalls Tenderskin Paper tape. It sticks very well and comes off fairly easily. Best of all it leaves the skin intact. I have sensitive skin and even micropore tape seems to irritate my skin, an MD suggested the tenderskin tape and I have used it for over a year with no problems!

Brenda

I use Rose's method: J&J Hurt-free 2" tape. I cut off a length long enough to wrap around and *single* tie behind my head. It's easy to take off in a hurry but stays on well. It's only lightly sticky and leaves no residue. I cut myself a new one about once a week.

Mindy

Rico.....

My honey and I are using 2" Blue 3M "Delicate Release" masking tape....available at Lowe's in the paint department. I tried the J&J medical tape....and didn't like it.

I use an 8" strip....fold the ends over 1/2" for "removal handles"......and it works very nicely. Not expensive......

To prevent "blow outs" (my pressure avg 10.5 cm), I wear panty-hose tights over the tape. The mild pressure of the tights against the tape augments the adhesive....yet, allows easy removal of the tape in the morning. There is no adhesive residue.

For removal, I turn my head to the left, grasp the RH side of the tape with my left hand, and turn my head to the right. The removed tape lies parallel to my face as I remove it.......not 90 degrees to my face (which pulls the skin too much).

I've experimented with mouth guards, tongue positioners, panty hose tights, and tape. The combination of tape and panty hose tights works best for me.

Once you get into the routine, it's no big deal.

Hope this helps.........

Gerald

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): hose

I've been using the Poligrip Strips for a very long time and don't really have much clean up trouble. I start at one edge and sorta roll it toward the middle, then go to the other side and do the same and just pull the rest of the way. I actually just use toilet paper or tissue to wipe off my mouth. Most of the time that's about it. Sometimes I need the 'roughness' of a wet washcloth. I'm so used to this that I can't imagine using anything else.

I use 2" 3M micropore surgical tape (available at some pharmacies, you have to hunt for it around here). I make sure it's long enough to extend at least two inches beyond the corners of my mouth to prevent leaks. Before putting on the tape, I apply moisturizing Chapstick to my lips. I roll my lips inward and then tape. This is pretty much Rooster's recipe. If there is any tape residue on my face, I wipe it off with an alchol swab. This works for me. I've been through a power outage and woke up almost immediately with no problems and was able to breathe through the ports on the mask. I have purchase poli-grip gel but have not tried it yet. Those who use it say it is great because you can open your mouth to clear your throat, cough or get a drink of water and the poligrip will reseal without reapplication. I've only had to get up one or two times since mouth taping to get a drink and have been able to reapply the tape. I don't think I could reapply it more than once.

Good luck