Device to keep tongue to roof of mouth?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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MurrayNevada
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Device to keep tongue to roof of mouth?

Post by MurrayNevada » Thu Jul 12, 2018 7:09 am

Is there a device to help keep the tongue to the roof of the mouth? I very much want to use a nasal mask but air escaping from my mouth wakes me up. Taping keeps my mouth closed but gives me "chipmunk cheeks" which is also uncomfortable and forces me to swallow air. Air no longer escapes when I purposely keep my tongue against my upper teeth and roof of my mouth. When my tongue drops from that position the air again rushes from my mouth. If there is such a device available I can possibly begin using the more comfortable nasal mask with the same success I experience with my FFMs.

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Soothest Sleep
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Re: Device to keep tongue to roof of mouth?

Post by Soothest Sleep » Thu Jul 12, 2018 8:25 am

Information on tongue positioning: https://ladydentistanchorage.com/tongue ... -it-helps/
Speak to your sleep specialist or dentist to see what exercises suit your particular needs, or a myofunctional therapist could also assist you.

Jean
O soft embalmer of the still midnight,
Shutting, with careful fingers and benign,
Our gloom-pleas'd eyes, embower'd from the light,
Enshaded in forgetfulness divine
-- John Keats

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ChicagoGranny
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Re: Device to keep tongue to roof of mouth?

Post by ChicagoGranny » Thu Jul 12, 2018 9:03 am

MurrayNevada wrote:
Thu Jul 12, 2018 7:09 am
Is there a device to help keep the tongue to the roof of the mouth?
http://www.nosebreathe.com/index.html

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Goofproof
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Re: Device to keep tongue to roof of mouth?

Post by Goofproof » Thu Jul 12, 2018 9:45 am

I just use my Brain, I position my tongue forward behind my upper front teeth, suck a light vacuum in mouth to hold. Practice, practice, practice, if you do it enough your brain will rewire to do it in your sleep. Jim

It takes effort, but costs nothing, nothing in your mouth that doesn't belong there.
Use data to optimize your xPAP treatment!

"The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." Voltaire

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Bigtonguehypopnea
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Re: Device to keep tongue to roof of mouth?

Post by Bigtonguehypopnea » Wed Jul 25, 2018 10:19 am

Goofproof wrote:
Thu Jul 12, 2018 9:45 am
I just use my Brain, I position my tongue forward behind my upper front teeth, suck a light vacuum in mouth to hold. Practice, practice, practice, if you do it enough your brain will rewire to do it in your sleep. Jim

It takes effort, but costs nothing, nothing in your mouth that doesn't belong there.
I've been sucking on a cough drop all night, which helps reflexively keep the suction going. But now I'm going to have a sleep study and I don't think they'll let me have anything in my mouth. So I'm trying to sleep without it and I think the habit has actually formed. I think I'm keeping my tongue suctioned to the roof of my mouth all night.

It helps also if as I'm laying on my side I try to point my face toward the mattress. Kind of let my face fall off the edge of the pillow. I'm going to try to make a custom pillow for this.

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Goofproof
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Re: Device to keep tongue to roof of mouth?

Post by Goofproof » Wed Jul 25, 2018 11:25 am

The whole idea of doing a sleep test, is to find out if you have Sleep Apnea, identify the causes and how bad the results, then come up with the best solution. Masking the problem may make the solution harder to find. Jim

Mouthbreathing is one of the things they should be looking for, if they did their job correctly.
Use data to optimize your xPAP treatment!

"The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease." Voltaire

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Bigtonguehypopnea
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Re: Device to keep tongue to roof of mouth?

Post by Bigtonguehypopnea » Wed Jul 25, 2018 11:57 am

Goofproof wrote:
Wed Jul 25, 2018 11:25 am
The whole idea of doing a sleep test, is to find out if you have Sleep Apnea, identify the causes and how bad the results, then come up with the best solution. Masking the problem may make the solution harder to find. Jim

Mouthbreathing is one of the things they should be looking for, if they did their job correctly.
Thanks. That makes sense. In my case, my AHI is only 4.9 and for this particular sleep study, I want to test my theory that tongue and body positioning solutions I've found are effective.