If you struggle withmouth breathinganddry mouthwhile using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy forsleep apnea, there are several things you can do that will help.
Different treatments can help improve nasal congestion that can lead to mouth breathing. Making adjustments to the CPAP device itself can also help.
This article will discuss why mouth breathing is common in people who use CPAP and what can be done to fix this problem.
Brandon Peters, M.D.
Mouth Breathing on CPAP
However, if your mouth falls open while the air is being delivered through your nose via a mask, it will escape, causing your mouth or throat to dry out.Over time, this may also lead to problems with your gums or teeth. Most importantly, it may reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of your treatment.
If you are a mouth breather during the day, there is a high chance that you are also a mouth breather at night.
Treatment
It’s important to make sure you can breathe through your nose without a sense of obstruction or restriction. If you have allergies, you may need to speak to your healthcare provider about treating them with oral medications ornasal steroids.
You may also find it helpful torinse your nose with saline from a neti pot, which delivers warm water into your nose and sinuses.Drinking a little water or using Biotene rinse at night may also help.
If the dryness is related to your mouth falling open, achinstrapmay help. A chinstrap is a simple headpiece, often fitted with Velcro, that is secured around your chin and the top of your head to keep your jaw shut. While useful, a chinstrap is not always comfortable and may cause snoring or a lip-buzzing sound as the air tries to escape.
Other interventions and alternative therapies for obstructive sleep apnea include weight loss,oral appliances, andpositional therapy.
While some people have been known to tape their lips during CPAP to prevent mouth breathing, the practice is strongly discouraged due to the risk of vomiting, aspiration, and asphyxiation.
Overcoming Equipment Issues
The next likely culprit for dry mouth may be your CPAP mask or machine. If the mask is not fitting properly, it may leak or cause moisture to be lost, defeating the entire purpose of the device. This is not uncommon with CPAP devices that fit over the nose which have the tendency to shift.
If your CPAP mask is the problem, one solution is to find a full-face mask that covers your nose and mouth or a total-face model that covers the eyes as well. The mask would need to be fitted to prevent leakage and ensure the lower jaw is not shifted.
Your CPAP machine should ideally be fitted with an adjustable heated humidifier to keep the nose, mouth, and throat moist. The air pressure settings may also need to be adjusted as overly high pressure can cause the mouth to fall open.
If you have old equipment, you should have it checked. In some cases, you may not have any other option but to replace the unit if it is unable to meet your needs any longer.
Summary
CPAP therapy is a common and effective treatment for people with obstructive sleep apnea. However, mouth breathing is common among CPAP users and can reduce the effectiveness of the therapy. Fortunately, there are many ways to avoid mouth breathing.
A Word From Verywell
If your problems persist, you may need to seek out other interventions. It may be necessary to have a repeatsleep studyto ensure that you have a proper amount of pressure delivered.
In some cases, it may be helpful to switch tobilevel therapy (BiPAP)in which the device delivers two distinct pressures, one for inhalation and the second for exhalation.
Despite any difficulties you may encounter, it is vital not to give up. Compliance with CPAP therapy may be tough, particularly in the early days, but the avoidance of serioussleep apnea complicationsmakes it well worth it.
If you’re struggling with CPAP therapy, tell your sleep medicine specialist and keep at it until a solution can be found.
Natural Remedies for Sleep Apnea
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.The American Sleep Apnea Association. SleepApnea.org.CPAP machines.Madison S, Brown EA, Franklin R, Wickersham EA, Mccarthy LH.Clinical Question: Nasal saline or intranasal corticosteroids to treat allergic rhinitis in children.J Okla State Med Assoc. 2016;109(4-5):152-3.Van egmond MM, Rovers MM, Hendriks CT, Van heerbeek N.Effectiveness of septoplasty versus non-surgical management for nasal obstruction due to a deviated nasal septum in adults: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.Trials. 2015;16:500. doi:10.1186/s13063-015-1031-4Johnson KG, Johnson DC.Treatment of sleep-disordered breathing with positive airway pressure devices: technology update.Med Devices(Auckl). 2015;8:425-37. doi:10.2147/MDER.S70062
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.The American Sleep Apnea Association. SleepApnea.org.CPAP machines.Madison S, Brown EA, Franklin R, Wickersham EA, Mccarthy LH.Clinical Question: Nasal saline or intranasal corticosteroids to treat allergic rhinitis in children.J Okla State Med Assoc. 2016;109(4-5):152-3.Van egmond MM, Rovers MM, Hendriks CT, Van heerbeek N.Effectiveness of septoplasty versus non-surgical management for nasal obstruction due to a deviated nasal septum in adults: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.Trials. 2015;16:500. doi:10.1186/s13063-015-1031-4Johnson KG, Johnson DC.Treatment of sleep-disordered breathing with positive airway pressure devices: technology update.Med Devices(Auckl). 2015;8:425-37. doi:10.2147/MDER.S70062
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
The American Sleep Apnea Association. SleepApnea.org.CPAP machines.Madison S, Brown EA, Franklin R, Wickersham EA, Mccarthy LH.Clinical Question: Nasal saline or intranasal corticosteroids to treat allergic rhinitis in children.J Okla State Med Assoc. 2016;109(4-5):152-3.Van egmond MM, Rovers MM, Hendriks CT, Van heerbeek N.Effectiveness of septoplasty versus non-surgical management for nasal obstruction due to a deviated nasal septum in adults: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.Trials. 2015;16:500. doi:10.1186/s13063-015-1031-4Johnson KG, Johnson DC.Treatment of sleep-disordered breathing with positive airway pressure devices: technology update.Med Devices(Auckl). 2015;8:425-37. doi:10.2147/MDER.S70062
The American Sleep Apnea Association. SleepApnea.org.CPAP machines.
Madison S, Brown EA, Franklin R, Wickersham EA, Mccarthy LH.Clinical Question: Nasal saline or intranasal corticosteroids to treat allergic rhinitis in children.J Okla State Med Assoc. 2016;109(4-5):152-3.
Van egmond MM, Rovers MM, Hendriks CT, Van heerbeek N.Effectiveness of septoplasty versus non-surgical management for nasal obstruction due to a deviated nasal septum in adults: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.Trials. 2015;16:500. doi:10.1186/s13063-015-1031-4
Johnson KG, Johnson DC.Treatment of sleep-disordered breathing with positive airway pressure devices: technology update.Med Devices(Auckl). 2015;8:425-37. doi:10.2147/MDER.S70062
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