I am waking some mornings after using CPAP with a dry mouth.

What could be causing this?

And is it something to be concerned about?


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Respironics Remstar M Series CPAP
Respironics ComfortGel Nasal Mask

You might be mouth breathing . besides giving you a dry mouth, mouth breathing can make your therapy ineffective because you are losing air through your mouth.  Chin straps work for some people, but a full face mask might be the way to go. Virginia


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Resmed elite , 17, mirage quattro ff . 25 + years of untreated OSA

Concur with Virginia, mouth breathing is a likely cause if you're using a nasal mask.  Some drugs cause dry mouth as well.

What make/model mask are you using?  Taking any medications?

Yes dry mouth is something to address, chronic dry mouth stops saliva from doing its job to protect your teeth and gums.  (Google for this, the problems associated with chronic dry mouth from any cause, are well documented).

IIRC you were going to buy a card reader and Encore Viewer software?  Did you do that?  The printouts will tell you the amount of leak you're experiencing, if it is high and you use a nasal mask then you are almost certainly mouth breathing.

Blessings,
--pseudonym

I have Sjogren's syndrome, which is mostly an "old ladies" condition, but is caused by whtie blood cells attacking the saliva glands. I have a full face mask because I mouth breathe. Chin straps don't help because my lips "flutter" and I lose pressure too. I literally used to tape my mouth shut because my doc didn't want me to have a full face mask at first until I insisted. Not sure why, but I finally got one! Yea!

I have a heated humidifier on my machine, a bi-pap, but the newer machine I have has only 300 cc of water and if I turn it up hot enough to work well, the water isn't enough for the entire night. It also doesn't pre-heat so I have to heat the water I put in there in the microwave before I go to bed.

There are several artificial salivas out there, Bio-teen GEL is the best I have found and works the best. I have also taken to rinsing my mouth out with olive oil before I go to bed and that helps a bit.

This has been a horrible problem for me as it wakes me up several times a night, or keeps me just nearly awake with literally my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth or my lower lip stuck to my gums.

The first full face mask I had blew the air out into my mouth, and I had to make a deflector to put inside the mask (my husband is an engineer) and that helped, the new mask doesn't do this and works fine, except it does tend to "fart" sometimes with air escaping if the strap isn't tight enough.

Do you have dry mouth at other times? if so, google Sjogren's and you will get a lot of good  info. There isn't anything much you can do about it, though there are some meds that they can give you to slow or stop the progression of this. It WILL rot your teeth out if you don't practice very good oral hygine as well. The saliva washes bacteria out of your moth and without it they damage teeth etc.

I would recommend starting with the simple first--if it is a nose mask, get a full face, and if you don't have trouble in the day time or are not on meds that cause a problem (a bunch of them) check with your doc. Good luck.

Hi and thanks for the replies. I am using a Respironics ComfortGel Nasal Mask. I am sure the dry mouth occurs because of my CPAP treatment as I never get it at other times.

From what you have said I reckon I must be mouth breathing. I probably do need a full face mask. I did send my smart card off to the technician recently who just told me I was doing OK and did not answer my questions at all!

I did manage to get Encore Pro software and when I am feeling less exhausted, I will try to work out the leakage rates.


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Respironics Remstar M Series CPAP
Respironics ComfortGel Nasal Mask

I use the Opti Life mask & I mouth breath. Sometimes I awake with dry mouth. I have taped my mouth shut & it works. Is cheap too!


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Sara

What kind of tape do you recommend? (I can imagine a few people chucking at the thought of my mouth being taped up)  


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Respironics Remstar M Series CPAP
Respironics ComfortGel Nasal Mask

Any medical or skin/wound tape that is kind to your skin (not the old 'adhesive bandage tape'!).

Be sure if you try it, to leave the ends long and fold under to make big 'tabs' you can pull should you need to remove it quickly (cough, sneeze, etc.).

Although long-term it doesn't seem to work, in the beginning try poligrip strips or gel.  This can seal your lips but you can get them open very easily, just rewet and stick back together.  This will let you know if you can tolerate the idea of having your lips glued shut

Me I prefer the full face mask.

Blessings,
--pseudonym

Richard,
I bought paper tape. I sticks but doesn't take the skin off in the AM.  Works for me. Good luck!


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Sara

I use the same mask, ComfortClassic, nasal.  I have been on it for about 2.5 yrs, and was a mouth breather as long as I can remember.  At first I used the chin strap, but it did very little to keep my mouth shut enough.  Then I tried tape, since I was determined to "learn" to sleep with my mouth closed.  I used that for about 2 month, and I soon realized that in my sleep I was pushing my tongue leaving a space between my front teeth!  So I did away with the tape, and just learned to sleep with a closed mouth.  For the most part, I do pretty well, with only a slightly parted lips.  But I am rested and ready to go every day.  

I had a severe apnea last week - woke up feeling almost suffocated. And that despite wearing the apparatus. Rather implies it wasn't working and leakage/mouth breathing I suspect are the culprits.


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Respironics Remstar M Series CPAP
Respironics ComfortGel Nasal Mask

So what's your next step?

Blessings,
--pseudonym

I guess I'll get my tape and try to learn to sleep with my mouth closed. Also get the mask adjusted and maybe check pressure settings.

BTW here is a Graph of the leakage whjich I printed off using Encore Pro Analyser:






Last edited by Richard Vanahlen on Sun Apr 20, 2008 1:19 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Respironics Remstar M Series CPAP
Respironics ComfortGel Nasal Mask

I hope it is OK to post it like this. If not please let me know.


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Respironics Remstar M Series CPAP
Respironics ComfortGel Nasal Mask

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj209/RichardVan/LeakrateApr08.jpg

Another graph - more informtive I think but a bit of a mystery to me.


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Respironics Remstar M Series CPAP
Respironics ComfortGel Nasal Mask