I have trouble with mouth leaks and have now tried a couple of different chin straps. I found a chinstrap that works, but only if I tighten it so much that it leaves marks on my face for about 5 hours.

Now everyone says if you can't stop mouth leaks, you have to go full face.

Everyone also says don't tape your mouth shut because you can vomit, asphyxiate, and die. Now I have used 3m paper tape 3/4" wide and can actually open my mouth with the tape on, but it is just enough pressure to keep my mouth shut at night. I do NOT and NEVER will use duct tape.

I see a full face mask as a possible cause of asphyxiation and death also in case of vomitting, but it has a "quick release" that must be way quicker than taking off a piece of tape.

I know I have sleep apnea, but it is not a must for me to spend half a day disfigured from strap marks. Keep in mind, I do NOT want to die from asphyxiation, suffocation, or anything else. I have no death wish and only want a clear understanding of why the "right" type of tape (if there is one) is so bad.

I know that nobody here is a medical professional. I want to hear from the people who think tape is ok and why and those who think not and why.

Wow, good homework assignment Phillip.  I’ll be interested in the responses.  For some reason it seems so un-natural to tape one’s mouth shut.  I don’t think I have ever heard of it being done to someone as a friendly gesture.  On second thought I’ve heard of some uses that claim to be friendly on the Law and Order TV show.

I have never done it and have never had the need to do it in that I use a full-face mask.  Thus I am not qualified to offer a first hand opinion.  But if one were to evaluate products for any use why would it be a “good thingâ€� for a patient to be forced to supplement the product in order to compensate for some dysfunctional feature?


                                  


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Success Nourishes Hope

Ive never used a full face mask but I think they have a safety valve that lets you breathe outside air in the event of a power failure or other problem

yes the question of taping the mouth is difficult and does raise questions, especially if say the sleeper is drunk and heavily sedated......

some say tape across the middle of the lips only is OK, others talk of burst blood vessels the next morning, perhaps from sneezing while taped
some can easily open their mouths in sleep even with a very tight chinstrap
full face masks werent around here 10 years ago when I was first diagnosed

Chin strap helps me - won't use tape - can't stand full face mask - and yeah it has a spot to breathe when the power goes off - but to me it's small and like breathing through a drink straw.

Good Luck - John

I've used tape securely over my mouth every night for over a year.  Otherwise I'd have to use a full face mask every night rather than the more comfortable nasal pillows interfaces I prefer.  If a person uses tape, it's important to fold down a bit of each end of the tape strips to form handy "grab tabs" for easy removal in the morning.

Another method to stop mouth air leaks that's been successful for me recently is a "DIY" mouthguard described in frequenseeker's topic here:

mouth leak solution, cheap DIY oral appliance

I tape my mouth shut every night....three strips across and two down (I think I got the idea for tape from rested gal).  Even with a heavy duty chin strap, my mouth still manages to get open.  I even tape my mouth shut when I wear the full face mask, because my chin starts to drop below the mask, even with  chin strap.  I have awoken myself sometimes because the tape comes off (sweat, oil, etc).  I hope I can't suffocate with the tape.  My nose still breaths okay.

Since realising a couple of weeks ago that air was escaping out my mouth I have been taping my mouth shut each night.

I had in the cupboard a roll of 5cm wide medical type tape (the stuff they use to hold bandages on) - I cut off a strip a bit wider than my mouth, fold the edge over so it is easy to remove, and apply.

The morning headaches (most nights) and dry mouth/throat (every night) disappeared immediately. Hasn't had any effect yet on daytime tiredness/fatigue though.

While googleing I found some tape shaped rather like a large "U" which goes up either side of the mouth and across the chin.  It was adverttised as keeping the mouth closed.  Has anyone here used this stuff? and how did it work?

Frank

Well, reading here has me convinced...  I'm going to give tape a try tonight!  I know I open my mouth while i'm asleep... and it happens every night about 1.5 to 2 hours after I fall asleep--and it wakes me up enough that I take my mask off and turn off my cpap...  

So...  tonight is tape.  If it works great.  

If not, I'll spring for the full face mask...  but for the $90 + shipping for the one I think I'll buy, I can get A LOT of tape!!

Phillip wrote:

I know I have sleep apnea, but it is not a must for me to spend half a day disfigured from strap marks.

Hope the tape works for you Phillip 'cause being disfigured from strap marks is nothing compared to being impaired and/or risking heart attacks or strokes from not using your CPAP!

FF user Vicki


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That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

Last edited by deedster on Wed Nov 02, 2005 7:15 pm; edited 1 time in total

[I'm new to this and do not yet have a CPAP machine.  So how common our mouth leaks?  I thought having a mask was bad enough... will I have to tape my mouth shut too?