What tape is the best?

taberge · Post by **taberge** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 7:36 pm

In order to get myself trained to use my mask, what is the best tape to use to keep your mouth closed? I don't want to have to deal with peeling my lips off with the tape come morning. I tried to read into posts to get this answer. I haven't seen it yet other than people saying they use tape. Both my doctors kinda gave me a you gotta be crazy look before they discouraged the using of tape. They wouldn't tell me what would be the best option.

plr66 · Post by **plr66** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 7:52 pm

There are a ton of posts on this subject if you put it into the search box. And of course, RestGal can give you the entire list of links. But the 2" blue painter's "delicate surface" tape at Wally-World is great--can be either 3M or Scotch or another brand. Just put on chapstick and roll your lips inward slightly but comfortably when you apply the tape. Seal it well. Pull it off in the morning flat against your cheek rather than pulling outward. No problem. I found it to be THE solution to getting effective therapy. Don't bother "shocking" your RT or MD. Just do it if it works and you don't have medical condititons which would contraindicate using this. See privious posts on the subject.

mindy · Post by **mindy** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:09 pm

I found the blue "delicate release" tape not delicate enough for my lips and skin. I ended up using the J&J 2" wide "hurt-free" tape and cut it long enough that I could tie it at the back of my head. It has just a little stickiness but enough that when I covered it with a pantyhose tights leg strap, it worked quite well. Just recently I noticed that my mouth seems to have adapted to being closed and have been able to use a chin strap without any taping.

Everyone seems to find their own "best" method of taping so there isn't one "right" method. Another little tip I read from someone on the forum is to use milk of magnesia under tape so that it comes off easily. I haven't tried that one yet.

Mindy

hobbs · Post by **hobbs** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 9:08 pm

My wife has had the best luck with 3M "Micro Pore" Surgical Tape. The painters tape irritated her face.

Gerald · Post by **Gerald** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 10:09 pm

My Honey and I have found that 2" Blue 3M Delicate Release Painter's Tape from Lowe's works the best for us. However, all of us who use tape experiment with many different "makes and models" of tape before finding the "best" one.

There is no "best" for all of us....It depends on individual preference.

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 10:31 pm

The kind of tape that doesn't irritate your skin is the best for the area around your lips.

But technique is crucial too:
Put some kind of chapstick on your lips
Purse them in - without streching your mouth
Keep your lips pursed in firmly, and stick that tape on your mouth.
Release your lips.

Now the tape is stuck to the skin around your mouth, but your lips are protected from the tape's sticky part by the layer of chapstick.

O.

Pineapple · Post by **Pineapple** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:03 am

ozij wrote:The kind of tape that doesn't irritate your skin is the best for the area around your lips.

Amen to that! I found that the delicate release and "hurt free" tapes were to "light weight" for my skin - apparently I'm really oily. Microprore by itself caused me to break out, but at Birdshell's sugestion I tried coating the taping area with Milk of Magnesia. That stopped the rash and the tape stuck.

needingu2 · Post by **needingu2** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 2:51 pm

I don't want to just be different but I had that problem in the beginning and tried marine glue, tape etc. I use the Comfortgel mask and the bottom lies n my upper lip and I find I do not need any thing to hold my lips together anymore. Whether I just learned to keep them closed or the pressure of the mask helps.. I hope you can correct this just by practice. Its easier.

roster · Post by **roster** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:54 pm

taberge wrote:In order to get myself trained to use my mask, what is the best tape to use to keep your mouth closed? I don't want to have to deal with peeling my lips off with the tape come morning. I tried to read into posts to get this answer. I haven't seen it yet other than people saying they use tape. Both my doctors kinda gave me a you gotta be crazy look before they discouraged the using of tape. They wouldn't tell me what would be the best option.

What about a FFM?

roster · Post by **roster** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:12 pm

If you insist on taping your mouth, use duct tape. Sleeping in a vertical position also reduces apnea. Since you bought an extra large size roll of tape, try it out.

Seriously, I would not use duct tape on my skin, but here are some tips from an old thread back when I was taping:

Mouth taping

Tape: Nexcare Gentle Paper Tape (3M Micropore Surgical Tape) 2-inches wide (available from many internet suppliers; I buy mine from Walgreen’s - $6.99 for 360 inches).

Nightly routine:
1. Notify family silent for 8 hours (phone calls – take message).
2. Wash thoroughly and dry face.
3. Apply Chapstick (generic brand) to lips.
4. Roll under about 1/16 inch of tape end to form tab for easy/quick removal of tape in morning.
5. Cut length of tape to cover lips plus about ¾ inch on each side of lips.
6. Turn lips in slightly (opposite of puckering) and center and apply tape horizontally across lips.

It doesn’t sound like it, but there is almost no discomfort wearing the tape and zero mouth leaks. There is slight discomfort when removing the tape, but the Chapstick stops the tape from adhering to the sensitive lip tissue. I find that occasionally tape adhesive is left on my face in the mornings. This can be rubbed off gently with alcohol swabs which are under $2.00 for 100 at about any pharmacy.

echo · Post by **echo** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 5:32 pm

My 1 cent on this topic: I use the 3M micropore tape. Same technique as already described above. In the morning, I apply some hand cream / cold cream and let it soak into the tape, which makes it come off of my skin easier. I have really sensitive skin so if I just peel it off in the morning without the cream, it rips my upper lip apart.

I haven't tried the milk of magnesia trick yet but I suspect it won't work for me, because I tend to blow out the tape easily, so i need all the stickiness i can get.

Another tip I read somewhere, to reduce the stickiness of the 3M tape, is to tape the swatch to your hand first, and then tape your mouth.

What tape is the best?

What tape is the best?

Re: What tape is the best?

Re: What tape is the best?

Re: What tape is the best?

Re: What tape is the best?

Re: What tape is the best?

Re: What tape is the best?

Re: What tape is the best?

Re: What tape is the best?

Re: What tape is the best?

Re: What tape is the best?