Mouthleak

[guest]

What is the best way to stop mouth leak?
I have found a chin strap does not work, as the leak still comes out.
I have used chin up strips and they work half the time for me, I can't figure out why. Half the time I end up like a blowfish with air coming out.
I have taped my mouth shut and every third day it comes loose during the night.
I am looking into the mouthguard method, but in the meantime any suggestions?
How common is this? It seems that the sleep doctors don't really address it?
Thanks,
Kurt

[Toth]

For those who have trouble with cpap, mouthbreathing seems to be the most common source of the trouble.

There are different varieties of chin straps, some cost a few pennies some cost eighty dollars. I've not really found one that works well and if you check the search function on this forum you can find that there is a whole thread devoted to a single topic: home-constructed chin straps to stop mouthbreathing.

Remember that for some, the mouth does not really have to open, the slightest parting of the lips can allow air to escape out the mouth rather than down the airway. This reduces pressure and if it reduces pressure sufficiently the whole cpap contraption is merely ventilating the bedroom.

[Phillip]

I am at a loss on this one. Usually a properly tightened chin strap will do it, or at least it has for me. I used tape the first month until everyone screamed I could vomit in the middle of the night and asphyxiate even though I have never vomited in the middle of the night and don't see tabbed tape being any worse than a full face mask.

Against everyones advice though, I found 3M paper tape to be good and not to leave a sticky residue on my lips. I tabbed both ends and it never once came off, and I liked it better than the chin strap I wear now as far as comfort goes.

I have seen mouth guards that block your mouth, but then I wonder why not tape again.

Someone smarter than me can hopefully help you.

[leaky lips]

I've had that problem with air leaking out my closed lips since I had the UPPP surgery. Tiara makes a chin strap that comes all the way up to the lip and this seems to work fairly well.

[snork1]

I am a firm believer in the tongue guide/ mouth guard approach myself, but when I USED TO use a chin strap, I read a theory that worked well.

Right NOW, push your jaw shut with your hand under your chin. Blow out. Pretty easy to blow out, eh?

Now take your finger and press gently up JUST under your lower lip. Now blow out. A whole lot harder to blow out now, eh?

Use that concept to make your own chin strap, with a visit to your local fabric store accessory section for the raw materials.

[heretolearn]

And let's not forget to mention that your sleep postion has something to do with mouth leaks too. ( I remember frequentseeker discussing the specifics somewhere on this message board previously, but I'm not sure right now of the link.) I just know that if I prop my head up beyond a certain point, air will blow out of my mouth if I relax my tongue. However, if I use only one pillow for sleep. placed under shoulders/head, I can relax my tongue, open my mouth and there is no rush of air coming out! If I remember right, frequentseeker explained this happening as something about reducing overall resistance in the airway? Anyway, for me, too many pillows for TV watching and body comfort have to be tossed just before falling asleep! Otherwise, I end up swallowing the air that gets trapped in my cheeks through the night when I tape nd use a chinstrap.

[frequenseeker]

Put a small pillow, rice bag or folded towel between your shoulderblades for the most direct method of straightening the airway. This will encourage the flow of air into the lungs and also thus reduce air into the stomach (aerophagia). If your head is propped on too much pillow it will work against this since the airway and the esophagus are so close together at neck, throat and chest.

For mouth leaks, here is the link for much information:
[url] http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/message-boards/viewtopic.php?t=4750[/url]

[heretolearn]

Thanks, frequentseeker!
( I feel like a kid in the back seat of car. I know I'm getting somewhere, but I can't exactly tell others how to get there. But even a kid like me knows which drivers she can trust for a safe ride ! )

[BigFred]

I have followed this forum for several years and have found it very helpful!! One approach I haven't seen mentioned for reducing mouth leakage is to press down (slightly) on the upper lip... I found that works well for me. Being the old engineer I am, I tried experimenting with an old Nasal Aire II by using tissue paper and found that it not only virtually eliminated the leakage, but it makes the NA 2 stay in place much better.. I believe it is essentially using the three-point attachment approach to "lock" the device in the nose. I then used clear silicone to build a dam (pad?) on the lower side of the NA 2 to match the size of the experimental wad of tissue. I further found that I can extend the life of the tubing of the NA 2 by using a technique I first saw on this forum, which Innomed now refers to as the "ponytail" method in their latest update of their web site. I can just pop the NA 2 in at night and don't have to do any adjusting or fiddling.. It may not work for everyone but certainly has been good for me.. Keep up the good work!! BigFred.