dry mouth

[Glen Po]

how do I avoid getting dry mouth while my mask?

[sheepless]

simple: close your mouth! :-) some use the tongue suck method, others use tape or chinstrap. I use a soft cervical collar to keep airway aligned and inhibit mouth from opening. somehow it also stops most lip leaks as well. Walla Walla and others suggest something you put in your mouth for the night. I want to say xylomelts or something like that. lot's and lot's of discussion about mouth leaks, dry mouth and drooling around the forum. use the forum search for more details.

[silentsnore]

Unfortunately, it's not that simple for many of us who have issues with nasal airways. There are reasons why people need FFMs.

As to the original question - try Biotene or Xylimelts, I have used both with limited success.

[sheepless]

sorry silentsnore. I didn't mean with my lame humor to discount extenuating problems like a true inability to nose-breathe. frankly it didn't occur to me so thanks for the reminder. I get dry mouth from high pressure forcing air through my lips. and sometimes on my back in the deepest sleep of the night my jaw must droop a bit. thoughtless of me not to realize some folks just can't get enough air by nose.

[michael9346]

The only thing I have found to work has been Xylimelts. (available at Wal-Mart for >$10.00/ 40 ct.) The Biotene rinse, spray and gel hasn't done a thing for me but maybe for you.

[silentsnore]

No worries @sheepless, no harm done.     

I just wanted to mention that for some, the mouth breathing is the only way to function. In my case, nose breathing provides, at best, only 20-30% flow.

Some people are having dental problems due to the dry mouth.

If I were to choose between Xylimelts and Biotene, I'd go with Xylimelts. There is another similar solution, just can't remember the name.

[Zhaylin]

Now that I've switched to the full mask, dry mouth upon waking has been pretty fierce.
I can pretty much salivate at will, though, so it is very short lived. Once I'm fully out of bed, then grab a drink out of the fridge, it's fully resolved itself.

[satfrat]

Because of all the medications I take, I've had dry mouth for years. I started using Xylimelts last spring and it's the first thing I've used that lasted more than an hour or so. Xylimelts stick to your gums or teeth and I've found it'll last 5 hours or so. But that was before Saturday when I started apnea treatment. Because I have yet been able to even fall asleep wearing the darn mask, I can't say what affects Xylimelts will have under a pressurized mask but I hope to find out soon. Best price I've found is $6.99 at Rite Aid online.

Cheers,
Robin

[DaveL]

simple: close your mouth!  :-)  some use the tongue suck method, others use tape or chinstrap.  I use a soft cervical collar to keep airway aligned and inhibit mouth from opening.  somehow it also stops most lip leaks as well.  Walla Walla and others suggest something you put in your mouth for the night.  I want to say xylomelts or something like that.  lot's and lot's of discussion about mouth leaks, dry mouth and drooling around the forum. use the forum search for more details.

Please help.

What soft cervical collar do you use? I bought a soft cushion from Amazon, and it was awful.  It was sold as a sleep collar for cars and aircraft.  I turned it around and put it under my jaw. Lasted about an hour there....

[sheepless]

davel, we might be getting off topic of the OP's question here but I'll leave that to the moderators. I took the easiest possible route and bought locally from Walgreens. they seem to have 2 they stock, one adjustable, one not. I thought I needed the adjustable because I have a short thick neck but turned out the non adjustable is better for me as it is a little firmer and I need more height than I thought. both under $20usd. not at all sure it's the best I can do not having tried any other. might eventually try the others people are using purchased online. of course there are many more options online. relative comfort and efficacy varies from person to person. there's a lot of discussion about this in other threads. use the search option at the top of this page for more info.