Dry Mouth Question

[Tinwoodsman]

I have been a CPAP user for 7 years and currently use a Airsense 10 with a Mirage FX mask.  I have never had any problems but in the last 3 weeks I have been 
waking up with a very dry mouth and my mouth walls stick to my teeth.  I have ordered a chin strap but I can't figure why this has happened after so many years.

[mesenteria]

My money would be on mouth breathing.  I have to tape as I am slack jawed at times, apparently, and I also use a nasal mask.  The tongue suck technique just won't last for me.

[sheepless]

others will probably have some useful suggestions for you; I'm just here to say you're not alone. my mouth leaks have increased sort of suddenly in the last several weeks too; no idea why. my optimistic self speculates I'm slowly sleeping longer without interruption, allowing deeper sleep during which I seem to migrate to my back, which is never good. my pessimistic self figures it's just another element of papping that seems to shift at times (like pressure needs) and to which we need to continually adjust somehow. either way, remedies are the same including things like a tennis ball sewed into back of pj's, chin strap, soft cervical collar, mouth tape, tongue suck technique, xylemelts (or similar).

[Stom]

in the last 3 weeks I have been waking up with a very dry mouth and my mouth walls stick to my teeth. 

Dry mouth can be a symptom of diabetes, which lots of people develop later in life. I don't know much about it other than to say that you may need to consult a doctor especially if you have dry mouth during the day as well as night.

[ardenum]

Tongue retaining device for mouth breathing or taping for therapy relief.

Xylimelts or Biotene spray for symptomatic relief.

[Tinwoodsman]

Thanks for the inputs.  I do not believe this is associated with diabetes since I had my annual physical last month and all numbers were good.  I have not experienced dry mouth during non-cpap treatments.  I received a ResMed chin strap today and will try it for the first time tonight and then report back.

[Tinwoodsman]

One more thing I would like to know is heated vs. non-heated hose.  With my Airsense 10 Autoset I currently use a non-heated hose but I am curious as to the benefits of a heated hose.

[ardenum]

Heated hose will dry the air exacerbating the problem. You didnt say if you use a humidifier chamber, if you don't thats whats gonna make it better.

[Fedman]

The heated hose will help with rain out - condensation in the hose due to use of your humidifier. I like lots of humidity and I only use/need the heated option during the winter months as it tends to get dry in the house due to the furnace working non-stop up here in the great white north of Canada. I don't need the heated option in the summer as it's quite humid here and the my CPAP humidifier doesn't have to work as hard resulting in no rain-out.

[st8800]

I have same dry mouth issue, nothing works except Xylimelts and FFM. Still gets it sometimes but much less often.

Tried everything, collar, tape, adult pacifier, different chin straps... damn mouth just won't stay close.