so what's the deal with mouth taping?

I am a rookie at this and trying to figure out a mask. I read about mouth taping which sounds good as I am a lip puffer, I am currently trying an FX mask, with pillows and no mouth cover. I understand the DMEs don't approve of tape from a tort liability aspect and the doctors don't see 3M as a valid medical approach, but does it work and is it safe? I understand the issue of rashes. My DME disses the Mirage Liberty for reasons unknown, perhaps economic.

My wife likes the idea of the tape, but that relates to our marital issues. Thank you in advance.

I have taped my mouth and used blue painters tape 3M 2080. It's for delicate surfaces. if you search for mouth taping you will get lots of info and tips.

Yes, it works. Safety is a relative thing. Be SURE you fold over a "tab" at one (or both!) ends of your mouth for easy removal in the dark. When I taped, I used blue painter's tape in 1.5". Roll your lips in (I hold them between my teeth) and then put the tape on. This does two things: It keeps the tape from irritating your lips (by peeling some skin layers off!); and it helps keep you from "drooling" on the tape and compromising the adhesive.

Taping worked well for me until I discovered the RespCare Hybrid mask...

Oh my gosh, mouth taping! I tried that once as I was waking up with very dry and painful mouth and throat and suspected mouth breathing. Purchased expensive "sensitive skin" paper tape at Walgreens and gave it a try. Woke up the next day with the tape sealing my lips very effectively but still had the very dry mouth and throat. Getting the tape off without ripping my lips off was a 15 minute ordeal. I won't do that again. As LinkC suggested, blue painter's tape might be the way to go and indeed, create a fold-over end for easier removal. My dry mouth issues went away after a few days. Not sure what that was all about. I just went 10 days without CPAP as my sinuses are completely plugged up so I was mouth breathing all this time. Woke up hourly with severe dry mouth. Last night was the first night back on CPAP as at least one nostril is now clear. Good luck

bearinthefield wrote:I am a rookie at this and trying to figure out a mask. I read about mouth taping which sounds good as I am a lip puffer, I am currently trying an FX mask, with pillows and no mouth cover. I understand the DMEs don't approve of tape from a tort liability aspect and the doctors don't see 3M as a valid medical approach, but does it work and is it safe? I understand the issue of rashes. My DME disses the Mirage Liberty for reasons unknown, perhaps economic.

My wife likes the idea of the tape, but that relates to our marital issues. Thank you in advance.

Some tape and seem happy with it. I taped for six months and then the Innomed Hybrid hit the market and I have never looked back. I recommend the Innomed Hybrid over the Mirage Liberty - see viewtopic/t56792/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=56 ... 39#p533439

bearinthefield wrote:I am a rookie at this and trying to figure out a mask. I read about mouth taping which sounds good as I am a lip puffer, I am currently trying an FX mask, with pillows and no mouth cover. I understand the DMEs don't approve of tape from a tort liability aspect and the doctors don't see 3M as a valid medical approach, but does it work and is it safe? I understand the issue of rashes. My DME disses the Mirage Liberty for reasons unknown, perhaps economic.

My wife likes the idea of the tape, but that relates to our marital issues. Thank you in advance.

I have a Mirage Liberty. It worked great in the DME's office. Using it in bed at night was another thing entirely. After two miserable nights, I gave up on it. I use the FX too. I taped my mouth for a while and then got a PAPcap. Actually, last night I taped again for the first time in over a month. I use the Gentle Paper Tape from Walgreen's as discussed above. I put chapstick on my lips and use it. I must have oily skin or something. Because, I don't have any trouble with this tape. My face is clean when I put it on. The next morning, I peel it off. Slowly, however.....it probably takes me 10-15 seconds to remove it. For me, it leaves no residue. No tender skin, no rash, etc.

I read a lot about mouth taping before I had the courage to try it. Someone had mentioned "what if you have to vomit" or "What if you vomit in your sleep?" Well, I've only done that once in 54 years and I was stupid drunk. Since I don't do that crap anymore, I figure I'm fairly safe. I put it on last night and then put on my mask. I waited for the machine to turn on automatically. I thought I was going to suffocate before that thing came on. Actually, all I had to do was pull the mask away from my nose.

For a written method for mouth taping, search Rooster's posts. He did a good write-up on it. That's the method I use. I will probably do that again tonight too.

The downside to mouth taping is: What if I want a drink? Answer: Forget about it. What if I want to talk? Answer: Too late, go to sleep.

Are there 2 Hybrids? Respcare and Inomed? Which one is better?

napmaster wrote: Well, I've only done that once in 54 years and I was stupid drunk.

I also stopped at once.


The post on taping is at viewtopic.php?t=9653&

newname wrote:Are there 2 Hybrids? Respcare and Inomed? Which one is better?

Actually Respcare and InnoMed Hybrid are the same. InnoMed company bought out the other and slight name change.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/RespCa ... -Mask.html

There is also the ResMed version of the hybrid, the Liberty
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... dgear.html

Minor differences in design.

InnoMed Hybrid comes with 3 different cushion size for adjustment.

ResMed Liberty you have to decide ahead of time which size will work.

I tape and have for years. I recently heard a good sleep doc say that full face masks are not as effective, but don't know why. This same doc was against tape and chin straps. He said if you can't get enough air through your nose, you need to get your nasal airway fixed. Well, I've been on cpap about 4 years. I got my nasal airway fixed about 5 years ago. And I've had trouble with my mouth opening the whole time. Go figure. Taping just seems like good insurance to me and I rarely have any trouble with it, just the occasional drool making it come undone, LOL.

socknitster wrote:I tape and have for years. I recently heard a good sleep doc say that full face masks are not as effective, but don't know why. This same doc was against tape and chin straps. He said if you can't get enough air through your nose, you need to get your nasal airway fixed. Well, I've been on cpap about 4 years. I got my nasal airway fixed about 5 years ago. And I've had trouble with my mouth opening the whole time. Go figure. Taping just seems like good insurance to me and I rarely have any trouble with it, just the occasional drool making it come undone, LOL.

What kind of tape do you use? I might try another kind out of curiosity.

I've been using 3M #2080 Blue 2" Delicate Release tape for years....and I can find no other way to keep my AHI at 1.0 or below. It works!

It seems, however, that 3M has recently changed the #2080 to a new model with a new adhesive formula. I've been testing it for a couple of weeks....and in a few days, I'll post a review.

I use about 16" each night......3-strips.

A couple of 3" strips...vertically on either side of my nose...from cheeks to chin.

A 10" strip from side to side.....on top of the other two strips.....and just below my nose...so that it covers my mouth.

During removal, I DO NOT pull directly away from my face (90-degrees)....that's the WRONG way to remove the tape.

Remove by pulling the tape over itself.....pull parallel to the face.....like the tape was being removed from a delicate surface.

If you don't get in a hurry.....there's no discomfort....and no adhesive residue.

I'll agree that someone who "tapes" really looks "funny"....but, that's beside the point. The purpose of taping is to prevent loss of pressure through your mouth. If pressure is lost, CPAP therapy is ineffective. Pressure inside your airways and lungs must be maintained....just like if you were a scuba-diver. The principle is the same.

Think "scuba"....get tape.

Gerald

Oh how I miss my nasal pillow with taping days.... I'm trying to get back to them - may problem is congestion caused by air flow...
Gerald, why do you use the vertical strips? What does it help with?

O.

Good morning, Oz............

Because I'm becoming ancient......I'll be 70 next week....my face is showing some erosion....and I've got some deep creases on either side of my nose...extending down toward my mouth.

If I only tape "straight across", I sometimes experience a "blowout" through one of those "creases"....consequently internal airway pressure drops and my AHI goes up a bit.

I fill the "creases" with the short vertical strips....then, layer on top of them with the long strip ...side to side.

The whole system works nicely....

G

I am definitely a mouth breather but I just wanted to say that not everyone needs a lot of tape to keep their lips sealed. It may be because I only use 9 cm of pressure. I use Breeze nasal pillows with a small 3/4" x 1" piece of paper tape vertically across the center of my lips and have no mouth leaks. I do roll my lips in before taping and pull it off gently in the morning with no pain or residue. Been on CPAP for 11 years and taping for at least 6.