Is taping you mouth shut dangerous?

[SleepingBearDoNtWake]

Hi Everyone,

Some on another forum wrote that taping your mouth could be dangerous, if you should happen to throw up in your sleep. This really seems to make sense. Is there any truth in this?
Would a chin strap be safer to use?
I haven't tried any of them, but I would like to try it out just to see if it increases my number. I tend to have dry mouth due to medications, so I use my humidifier and bioten toothpaste which is suppose to help dry mouth. For me the toothpaste, insn't really helpful. It better than regular toothpaste as my mouth will become dry as soon as I use it, but it is no magical cure by far.

[rested gal]

LINKS to: Mouth leaks - Air Leaks - Tape - DIY Guard
viewtopic.php?t=8011

[archangle]

I'll bet that was me. If you do apply tape, and throw up before you manage to get the tape off, it will be bad, no ifs, ands, or buts. Aspiration pneumonia is the biggest risk, although you could theoretically suffocate if you were incapacitated and couldn't get the tape off.

Consider the risks before you tape. If you do tape, be sure you can pull the tape off in a hurry if you need to. Fold over one or both ends so you have a pull tab. Or you may simply be able to open your mouth despite the tape if you try hard enough, depending on what tape you use.

How likely is it to throw up before you get your mouth open in reality? Probably not that much risk per night. You'll probably be doing this for the rest of your life, though.

A chin strap is definitely safer if you can make it work. Most tapers have tried chin straps and couldn't make it work. A full face mask is another "safe" option.

Mouth leaks can make your CPAP treatment ineffective or make you quit, and that can kill you, too.

[rested gal]

I'll bet that was me. If you do apply tape, and throw up before you manage to get the tape off, it will be bad, no ifs, ands, or buts. Aspiration pneumonia is the biggest risk, although you could theoretically suffocate if you were incapacitated and couldn't get the tape off.

Consider the risks before you tape. If you do tape, be sure you can pull the tape off in a hurry if you need to. Fold over one or both ends so you have a pull tab. Or you may simply be able to open your mouth despite the tape if you try hard enough, depending on what tape you use.

How likely is it to throw up before you get your mouth open in reality? Probably not that much risk per night. You'll probably be doing this for the rest of your life, though.

A chin strap is definitely safer if you can make it work. Most tapers have tried chin straps and couldn't make it work. A full face mask is another "safe" option.

Mouth leaks can make your CPAP treatment ineffective or make you quit, and that can kill you, too.

This is an excellent post by archangle, imho. I'd try a chin strap first and if that doesn't work, then try as many Full Face masks as you can (easier said than done if a person has to buy some or all of them out of his/her own pocket.) Perhaps also try a DIY boil'n'bite mouthguard if you can fashion one that works. Perhaps a dentist can make such a thing, if a person wants to go to that expense.

I elect to use tape and a chin strap. Been using tape for about seven years now. Each person should "consider the risks", as archangle said, and make their own decision about how to handle mouth breathing issues while using CPAP.

Well written, archangle.

[kempo]

I'll bet that was me. If you do apply tape, and throw up before you manage to get the tape off, it will be bad, no ifs, ands, or buts. Aspiration pneumonia is the biggest risk, although you could theoretically suffocate if you were incapacitated and couldn't get the tape off.

Consider the risks before you tape. If you do tape, be sure you can pull the tape off in a hurry if you need to. Fold over one or both ends so you have a pull tab. Or you may simply be able to open your mouth despite the tape if you try hard enough, depending on what tape you use.

How likely is it to throw up before you get your mouth open in reality? Probably not that much risk per night. You'll probably be doing this for the rest of your life, though.

A chin strap is definitely safer if you can make it work. Most tapers have tried chin straps and couldn't make it work. A full face mask is another "safe" option.

Mouth leaks can make your CPAP treatment ineffective or make you quit, and that can kill you, too.

This is an excellent post by archangle, imho. I'd try a chin strap first and if that doesn't work, then try as many Full Face masks as you can (easier said than done if a person has to buy some or all of them out of his/her own pocket.) Perhaps also try a DIY boil'n'bite mouthguard if you can fashion one that works. Perhaps a dentist can make such a thing, if a person wants to go to that expense.

I elect to use tape and a chin strap. Been using tape for about seven years now. Each person should "consider the risks", as archangle said, and make their own decision about how to handle mouth breathing issues while using CPAP.

Well written, archangle.

Nice response rested gal

[BrianR4743]

Suggestions like this are why I stay connected to cpaptalk.com! A wealth of information from so many experienced users. Good post Arch.

I'll bet that was me. If you do apply tape, and throw up before you manage to get the tape off, it will be bad, no ifs, ands, or buts. Aspiration pneumonia is the biggest risk, although you could theoretically suffocate if you were incapacitated and couldn't get the tape off.

Consider the risks before you tape. If you do tape, be sure you can pull the tape off in a hurry if you need to. Fold over one or both ends so you have a pull tab. Or you may simply be able to open your mouth despite the tape if you try hard enough, depending on what tape you use.

How likely is it to throw up before you get your mouth open in reality? Probably not that much risk per night. You'll probably be doing this for the rest of your life, though.

A chin strap is definitely safer if you can make it work. Most tapers have tried chin straps and couldn't make it work. A full face mask is another "safe" option.

Mouth leaks can make your CPAP treatment ineffective or make you quit, and that can kill you, too.

[LittleRedTruck]

In reality, anything that covers both nasal and mouth is dangerous, in this regard. Consider how quickly you must get several of the straps unhooked with a full face mask. Especially waking from a deep sleep. I would think not quickly at all. I tape my mouth nightly. I have tested my taping several times and with a little effort can pop my mouth open. The jaw is very powerful. So what needs to happen to puke. Well the mouth needs to open! Would I rather choose to trust that automatic reflex or try to get a chin strap off or a full face mask off in time. I feel way safer using the tape. I also leave a half inch tab on my right side that allows
me to pull the tape off way faster that unhooking straps. Lets see, some people sleep with their face in the pillow, or bedding covering their face. How well would that work for them. The point is, just living has risk. I would think for people who tape, to test and see what it takes to pop the mouth open. We dont need to tape to the point this is difficult. It certainly isnt for me. Oh, maybe its a danger to sleep on ones back. What goes up must come down! Maybe into the lungs. Archangle I certainly hope your not a back sleeper, lol Dan

[avi123]

I'll bet that was me. If you do apply tape, and throw up before you manage to get the tape off, it will be bad, no ifs, ands, or buts. Aspiration pneumonia is the biggest risk, although you could theoretically suffocate if you were incapacitated and couldn't get the tape off.

Consider the risks before you tape. If you do tape, be sure you can pull the tape off in a hurry if you need to. Fold over one or both ends so you have a pull tab. Or you may simply be able to open your mouth despite the tape if you try hard enough, depending on what tape you use.

How likely is it to throw up before you get your mouth open in reality? Probably not that much risk per night. You'll probably be doing this for the rest of your life, though.

A chin strap is definitely safer if you can make it work. Most tapers have tried chin straps and couldn't make it work. A full face mask is another "safe" option.

Mouth leaks can make your CPAP treatment ineffective or make you quit, and that can kill you, too.

Add:

When your nose is stuffed and you tape your mouth how will you breath?

[chunkyfrog]

Even when I do tape, I pay careful attention to how my stomach feels at bedtime.
I would never want to eat heavily or very late; or include anything that might cause an upset stomach.
My tape is always small, and simple with generous tabs.
When I use my home-made chinups, I can almost whistle.

[rosacer]

For some people (as me) only a small piece of tape (3/8 inch long X 3/4 inch high) placed at the center of the lips keeps the mouth closed.

[Perrybucsdad]

I recently switched from FFM to nasal pillows. The first night I opened my mouth just a few times. Someone on the forum recommended I sleep with a pillow up against my lower jaw to help keep my mouth shut. Not only does it work like a charm, but is very comfortable. I'm not sure if this works in the supine position, but for me (stomach and side sleeper) I have no issues.

[Uncle_Bob]

The two ways in which we can leak air through the mouth (that i am aware of):

1) Mouth puffs. puffing or blowing of air through the mouth
2) Jaw drops. The jaw drops forcing the airway wide open causing a gush of air.

Like many others i was initially unable to tell what kind of leaks i was getting, they both just show up as leaks in the data.
After trying a couple of those cheap chinstraps I jumped onto the whole mouth taping thing and it worked, in that it stopped the leaks.
But I soon found it scarey when i got congested, which at the time i often did. I would wake up in such a panic.

Then I saw the claims made by PurSleep for its PapCap chinstrap. I looked at the size of the chin support and its position lower back and near the neck. So i tried it and it worked, so my leaks were down to jaw dropping. I was then able to get zero leak rates and if i woke and wanted to breath through my mouth i could (handly that)

Fast foward to today and I don't even need a chinstrap I think I've finally learned to keep my mouth shut

[Perrybucsdad]

I guess one other thing to consider about leaks. What is your AHI in relation to your leak rate for the night? The other night my median leak rate was a little elevated, but my AHI was 0.3. With the AHI being so low, I didn't worry too much about the leak rate. If the AHI would have been higher and sustained, or I was seeing events during the high leak periods, I would have looked at this differently.

John

[DoriC]

In reality, anything that covers both nasal and mouth is dangerous, in this regard. Consider how quickly you must get several of the straps unhooked with a full face mask.

You really only have to unhook one clip to get the FF off quickly. My husband had to do it once fast and he's a bit disabled. He had no problem.

[DaveL]

Thanks all. I'm learning!

DaveL
Toronto