Dry Mouth

[rhoodphoto]

I have been on CPAP since last September and have just recently started having an extremely dry mouth when I get up in the morning. My humidifier reservoir still has water in it, but a little more than it used to, and I haven't changed the temperature on the humidifier. Any help?

[Sinkiller]

I had that problem too. I found that using a lip balm like Chapstick helped. I use a pretty heavy coat of it on my lips just before I put on my mask. It really helped.

[PaytonA]

If your leaks are OK (below 24 lpm) I would raise the humidification. I have a very unsophisticated humidification system, so I am not sure how to do it on your system.

[retired_guy]

Really bad dry mouth is usually caused by mouth breathing. Even ffm users can have problems with dry mouth if they tend to breath through their mouth under the mask. You could use a chinstrap to assist the jaw in deciding to stay closed. Some say over, some say under the mask. You would just have to experiment. Or you could try a pillows mask with chinstrap and ditch the full face mask.

[rhoodphoto]

Thanks, I will try the lip balm and humidity increase but I don't think I will try the chin strap. I am a mouth breather and for 7 months I did not have a dry mouth so something else is going on. I can barely stand the FFM and if you throw on a chin strap on top of that, then you might as well just shoot me and put me out of my misery.

[retired_guy]

Thanks, I will try the lip balm and humidity increase but I don't think I will try the chin strap. I am a mouth breather and for 7 months I did not have a dry mouth so something else is going on. I can barely stand the FFM and if you throw on a chin strap on top of that, then you might as well just shoot me and put me out of my misery.

Ok.... So, once again, why exactly are you using a full face mask? If you can barely stand it, I would think you need to seek an alternative that you will be more comfortable with. Oh, is it because you are a "mouth breather?" Yeah, me too. But I use a pillows mask and a chinstrap. and I'm not in misery so please don't shoot me!

[jaycee]

Have you replaced the cushion on the mask since you've had it?

Have you lost weight since starting CPAP?


My guess would be some type of leak that wasn't there befor.

[SleepWrangler]

I have been on CPAP since last September and have just recently started having an extremely dry mouth when I get up in the morning. My humidifier reservoir still has water in it, but a little more than it used to, and I haven't changed the temperature on the humidifier. Any help?

Same situation here. Looking at my leak graph it appears I've started to mouth breath after switching to a pillow mask. While I figure out the best way to control the leaks I've bought biotene moisturizing mouth wash and biotene pH balanced tooth paste for people with dry mouth. I just want to ensure my teeth don't decay because of the lack of saliva.

[zonk]

I have been on CPAP since last September and have just recently started having an extremely dry mouth when I get up in the morning.

Whats AHI and leak rate reported on the S9 sleep report and SleepyHead
Replacing mask cushion and the headgear (headgear do stretch after a while) regularly and washing the cushion daily would helps
Beside of dry mouth, any symptoms of nasal congestion

[PaulaO2]

There are Biotene tabs and mouthwash. They apparently do a great job of helping to keep the mouth moist during the night. I've not tried them but I know several other folks here do.

Since you have a full face mask, mouth breathing is not an issue in terms of OMG something new.

Other things to look at would be either a new medication or a change in one. Ask your pharmacist if any of them cause dry mouth as a symptom.

Then there's just simple crazy weather. It's that in between seasons time of year. Weird humidity levels, allergens, ambient temperatures. Try turning up the humidity level to see if that helps. Or, perhaps, turning it off.

And finally, do a full machine and mask check. Change filter, check mask seals, all that. Never hurts to do it!