Any suggestions on preventing dry mouth?

I'm a newbie, been on CPAP for about 4 weeks now. I started off with nasal pillows and didn't like my first mask (Reperonics GoLife) and went to RespMed's Aloha. Much better mask but I'm now starting to have a problem with mouth leak and I wake up with SUPER dry mouth. Almost to a point of being painful. I've tried the chin strap I got from the DME company when I got my mask. It seems to do absolutely nothing.

Another person suggested I buy a two sided mouth guard (like they use for football) to try to help block the air from leaving my mouth. I went out and spent $20 on one tonight but I'm really hesitant about wasting my $20. I was also recommended to turn up my humidifier which I did last night. I ended up on the highest setting and it was almost too much heat. Still that didn't stop my dry mouth so I'll be backing that down tonight.

I know most of you are going to say go to a full face mask. Well, I have a call into my DME to look into that but I would really prefer to stick to the not so evasive nasal pillows. I'm also not sure how the DME is going to like me making another change so soon. I'm not sure if I would have to pay for it out of pocket.

Any other suggestions?

I'm still trying to figure everything out. I know I'm sleeping better because I'm dreaming a heck of a lot more and I'm not as tired in the afternoons. However, I have yet to sleep through the night since starting CPAP.

learn to tape or get a full face mask. I find the Hybrid the least invasive.

caverman, no amount of humidification will prevent dry mouth/throat caused by mouth breathing. That's true even with a full face mask. As for chin straps, most of us hard core mouth openers will tell you that chin straps usually can't prevent mouth breathing. Some people have been able to "train" themselves over time to keep their mouth closed successfully. I'm not one of 'em.

I always hesitate to bring this up with brand new newbies because I was horrified when I was just starting on cpap and heard about this method, but -- here goes -- some of us have taken to using tape to prevent mouth opening, so that we can keep with our nasal pillow masks. I also use the Aloha and I love it -- uh, well, at least as much as one can love cpap equipment! After months of struggle and cinching my chin strap so tightly that I gave myself TMJ syndrome (owww), I finally tried it in desperation and I've never turned back. Took a while to work out my taping routine but it works.

If this -- -- is how the idea strikes you, then strike the idea for now. But if you're interested you can do a search on taping and you'll see lots of discussions about it.

OK. Guess I'll look into what taping is all about.

Anyone think the mouth guard is worth a try?

I am a severe mouth breather, but I have gotten used to it. I have tried Biotene mouth rinse and it does seem to help.

Sheriff

Advice? Shop at Walmart.

Another person suggested I buy a two sided mouth guard (like they use for football) to try to help block the air from leaving my mouth. I went out and spent $20 on one tonight but I'm really hesitant about wasting my $20.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/LoPro-Plus-Do ... o/17128968

ChicagoGranny wrote:Advice? Shop at Walmart.

Another person suggested I buy a two sided mouth guard (like they use for football) to try to help block the air from leaving my mouth. I went out and spent $20 on one tonight but I'm really hesitant about wasting my $20.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/LoPro-Plus-Do ... o/17128968

Have you used that one? I've seen several like that but they have an air opening which I thought would defeat the purpose?

It was late last night when I read about the taping so I couldn't run to Walgreens. I did have some painters tape in the garage so I gave that a try but I think the biggest problem was that it was only a 1" tape. I probably need at least 1.5" or 2" to get a good strong seal. I took some advice and put just a little lotion around my mouth area and I stuck the tape to my shirt once to take a little sticky away. I will say that it definitely seemed to improve my dry mouth. Didn't completely make it go away but I think that was because being 1" it broke the seal or so around the edge of my mouth. I think I might try to get some larger painters tape today because I can always use that around the house if it doesn't work out for my dry mouth.

I have a real problem with dry mouth too and I use a full face mask. I have nasal allergies and use a corticosteroid spray, plus I take medication that has dry mouth as a side effect. I keep the humidification up as high as I can, use Biotene toothpaste twice a day and the rinse once a day, and have a tube of the Biotene gel at my bedside in case I need it. The humidification in these machines stinks. I go through the whole tank of water in my humidifier in 6 hours.

caverman wrote:

ChicagoGranny wrote:Advice? Shop at Walmart.

Another person suggested I buy a two sided mouth guard (like they use for football) to try to help block the air from leaving my mouth. I went out and spent $20 on one tonight but I'm really hesitant about wasting my $20.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/LoPro-Plus-Do ... o/17128968

Have you used that one? I've seen several like that but they have an air opening which I thought would defeat the purpose?

I don't recommend any mouthguard for mouthbreathing.

Use a full face mask or tape or both. Biotene Gel properly applied is a help but not a solution.

If you go the tape route, find the recent thread talking about 3M Nexcare Sensitive Skin tape (Not Nexcare Gentle Paper Tape). All other tape is bullbleep, especially that industrial smelling painter's tape.

http://www.nexcare.com/wps/portal/3M/en ... 4AodbzMAbw

caverman,

You can test Avi's nonsensical claim. Right now hold your mouth closed and swallow. Easy eh?

You will find a lot of people on the forum who have taped their mouths for years. They have not drowned in saliva.

I like Avi, but get confirmation from others before you believe the stuff he posts.

caverman,

Just curious, which chin strap were you given. Chin straps like masks fit some and not others. I used the Ruby Adjustable for about three months before I "learned" to keep my mouth shut. I still grab it occasionally when for some reason (could it be aliens, Pugsy?) my mouth drops and am awoken by the blast.

-tino

Don't know what brand of chin strap they gave me but it's the blue and says CareFushion on the back.

I just ordered an adjustable Ruby chin strap that everyone seems to be happy with. $15 to my door so it's worth the gamble. I'll be taking my $20 mouth guard back and still be ahead of the game. They already shipped it out so I hope to have it in the next day or so. In the mean time I guess I'll try the tape again.

The tape I used last night didn't seem to cause me a swallowing issue or anything. I think it was just to thin of a tape (1") and I blew the seal on the corners. Tonight I'll probably tap on top of itself to try to get closer to 2". I would prefer not to tape so I'm hoping the new chin strap will work. The original blue one they gave me seems to be worthless. I hope that's not a common thing with all the chin straps. I'm also hoping to not have to go to a full face mask (although I heard I should have one as a backup for when I have a cold or stopped up nose).

ditto