chipmunk taping question

This thread is about animal cruelty, but not to chipmunks. The cruelty is to me, when I try to get a decent night's sleep. This is what I look like when I get chipmunk cheeks:



Let me just get the question out of the way, and you can read the particulars below if you like:

Are there people here who sleep (well) all night with chipmunk cheeks?

I've tried the papcap, and even if I tighten it to the point of pain, my lower jaw will jump off of the dental device I use for bruxing. I've tried for months trying to train my tongue to be in the correct position to inhibit air entry into my mouth, but cannot seem to get the hang of it. I've had to train my tongue when I was younger to get braces, but for this application, it seems really difficult, if not impossible for me. My guess is that when sleeping positions and jaw positions change, the proper tongue placement is a moving target, something I'm not good at hitting when I'm asleep.

I've tried the Liberty Mirage hybrid, and I got it to be leak free, but the resulting windstorm around my mouth causes too much distraction, and I cannot get to sleep. Also, the dry mouth is fairly horrible, even with the humidity cranked very high. I currently use MIrage Swift II (nasal pillows only) and its great and quiet for getting air into my lungs. My machine is set for 12cm.

So let's say I am resigned to taping. The tape I've been using eventually leaks, thus ruining the therapy completely. I've purchased the 3M Scotch 2080el tape. Let's assume I get it to seal completely against the exodus of mouth air. Might I be able to sleep through the night with the chipmunk cheeks sealed?

Thanks.

That's a tough one. Rested Gal could never get her tongue to do its job properly either so she resorted to tape and a chin strap snug enough to apply pressure on the cheeks to keep them from inflating.
Damned if you do and damned if you don't.
I don't know of anyone who sleeps all night with chipmunk cheeks. Eventually the pressure will force the lips open.

The Chipmunks use full heavy metal gear face masks in their performances.

Have you tried FF Mask? That will eliminate most Chipmunk Cheeks.

Not trying to hijack this thread but what causes chipmunk cheeks? I've had a couple of brief occurances in the time I've been using cpap. Not enough to be an issue but curious just the same.

lorraineg57 wrote:what causes chipmunk cheeks?

Air goes up the nose and starts down the airway and tried to exit at the first opportunity which is the mouth.
Normally the tongue acts as a door and blocks the entry into the mouth. When it doesn't then air will enter the mouth and if lips are closed....the air inflates the cheeks.
It doesn't like to go back down the airway where it is supposed to go...it wants to exit the mouth and eventually you wake up with chipmunk cheeks and have to open mouth or loosen tape or whatever. While not really harmful in itself it is highly annoying and since it is likely to wake you up...it is unwanted for that reason mainly. If you keep mouth shut and cheeks inflated any other air going up the nose and down the airway will proceed down the airway because the mouth is already full.

It is annoying though and it will wake a person up so it is unwanted.
Some people their tongue just either won't stay in place like it should or maybe is too small to be an effective door.

Pugsy wrote:

lorraineg57 wrote:what causes chipmunk cheeks?

Air goes up the nose and starts down the airway and tried to exit at the first opportunity which is the mouth.
Normally the tongue acts as a door and blocks the entry into the mouth. When it doesn't then air will enter the mouth and if lips are closed....the air inflates the cheeks.
It doesn't like to go back down the airway where it is supposed to go...it wants to exit the mouth and eventually you wake up with chipmunk cheeks and have to open mouth or loosen tape or whatever. While not really harmful in itself it is highly annoying and since it is likely to wake you up...it is unwanted for that reason mainly. If you keep mouth shut and cheeks inflated any other air going up the nose and down the airway will proceed down the airway because the mouth is already full.

It is annoying though and it will wake a person up so it is unwanted.
Some people their tongue just either won't stay in place like it should or maybe is too small to be an effective door.

Ah...gotcha. Thanks for the explanation.

I, too, get the chipmunk cheeks. I've tried sleep with them and it just doesn't work. It makes my jaws hurt and is just plain annoying. I have been taping my mouth and wearing a chinstrap to keep the cheeks down. So far it's the only thing that has worked to let me sleep through the night.

Thanks for responses.

So, the only tapers who are successful are also ones who wear chinstraps to keep their cheeks from puffing too far out? My papcap doesn't seem to do a thing for my chipmunks.

I wish I could figure out a way to keep them from puffing out besides the chinstrap

I had thought of experimenting with different padding material to place under a chinstrap to hold the cheeks in.
The trick is getting the right firmness, but still soft and comfortable.
Of course, I would look like the old cartoon picture of a kid with mumps.

So, in your case of taping, does the chinstrap minimize the chipmunk cheeks such that it doesn't wake you up? What kind of chinstrap is it?

edit>>

Wait!@ I have more questions

Do you keep the air pressure up in your mouth such that the new air from the nose pillows passes by the already occupied mouth area and goes where it's supposed to?

My cheek don't "chipmunk" any more--sometimes it just happens.
I was working on a solution, and found I didn't need it any more.
I also learned how to talk with the blower on. (how do I do that, any way?)
I can also drink with the air on. I never could do any of those things before.
Practice sometimes fixes the stuff you're not even thinking about.
Now I just use a strip of tape vertically over my mouth to pull my chin up and lips together.
Sometimes I don't. (edit: DH says if I don't, my lips leak.)

chunkyfrog wrote:My cheek don't "chipmunk" any more--sometimes it just happens.
I was working on a solution, and found I didn't need it any more.
I also learned how to talk with the blower on. (how do I do that, any way?)
I can also drink with the air on. I never could do any of those things before.
Practice sometimes fixes the stuff you're not even thinking about.
Now I just use a strip of tape vertically over my mouth to pull my chin up and lips together.
Sometimes I don't. (edit: DH says if I don't, my lips leak.)

Doesn't drooling just make you feel sexy?

chunkyfrog wrote:My cheek don't "chipmunk" any more--sometimes it just happens.
I was working on a solution, and found I didn't need it any more.
I also learned how to talk with the blower on. (how do I do that, any way?)
I can also drink with the air on. I never could do any of those things before.
Practice sometimes fixes the stuff you're not even thinking about.
Now I just use a strip of tape vertically over my mouth to pull my chin up and lips together.
Sometimes I don't. (edit: DH says if I don't, my lips leak.)

Don't get 'cheeky' with me!!
Okay, lets start again. Before you had figured out this and that, did you... nevermind, I'm exhausted. To be continued....