RE: Chin strap ideas again
(08-21-2014, 11:59 AM)PaulaO2 Wrote: What chin straps do folks use for flapping lips? My mouth stays shut, but my cheeks are puffing out and air escapes between my lips.
Keeping the teeth together makes it easier to keep the tongue in place against the roof of the mouth keeping air out of your mouth. The standard advice is to press the tongue against the roof of the mouth, but not everyone can make that happen.
Ideally, the back of your tongue will seal off your mouth and prevent air from escaping. Not everyone can make this work. With my chinstrap properly adjusted, I can usually keep my tongue in the right place, and I don't end up with any air pressure in the mouth.
You might try using a non-adhesive ACE bandage over your lips looped around the back of your head. It might keep your lips from flapping outward, even though it won't keep them together without another chin strap. The Ace bandage is porous enough to breathe through if necessary.
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If it's midnight and a DME tells you it's dark outside, go and check it yourself.
08-21-2014, 11:10 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-21-2014, 11:12 PM by zonk.)
RE: Chin strap ideas again
I recall Archangle said something about piece of ace bandage, might work better than chinstrap for balloon cheeks
Edit: he beats me to it, speak of the angel
RE: Chin strap ideas again
The balloon cheek thing is relatively new. Just a few months since I had to start sleeping more on my back. Driving me freakin' nuts! Granted, it is a short drive to get there but still, it took me there.
I had forgotten the tongue against the roof of the mouth thing. I'll give that a try while my jaw heals.
PaulaO
Take a deep breath and count to zen.
RE: Chin strap ideas again
Same issues ... cinched up every night for 21/2 years hoping my mouth would learn to stay shut the way the RN at the sleep study said. Nearly two weeks in now with using no chin strap (on a lark) - much more comfortable (but ... ) though I use a snore guard (a $500 one from a dentist, built from impression, etc,) which helps move lower jaw forward and keep teeth together, though I know my bottom jaw falls out now and then.
The but? Have been renting a Resmed AirSense 10 Autoset for five nights, and my AHI is at 1.8 (pondering the switch between the 10 and basic Resmed 9 Escape) - which pleases me, and I feel like I;m sleeping better. So I've experienced the fluted lips, sore spot on jaw, that cinched feeling ... and think now I've put in my time and except for lips (the 10 records leaks, which my DME guy thinks is lips/mouth) will sleep much more comfortable. I like the 10 - convenient, handsome, love the high tech, reports, auto-on and off, access to data. Just waiting to see if Blue Cross Blue Shield will allow purchase...
ps - so few and light marks on my bright face in the morning, gone by the time I brush my teeth.