nasal mask w/ chin strap

I have been on CPAP for 2 years. tried all 3 types of masks and love the nasal mask best. But sometimes my mouth opens in the middle of the night and air passes out my throat.
I'm thinking of using a chin strap in combination with nasal mask. Is that a popular way to go?

Advice on a good one to use with mask would be welcomed.

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BTW, I went to a local med supply store to get one (not a patient there) and they wanted a Rx for one.
Are you effing kidding? It's a strap ffs! Little different than a knee brace which I can get at CVS.
I'll get one on Amazon.
Just like when I get replacement headgear and masks etc.

wavking wrote:I have been on CPAP for 2 years. tried all 3 types of masks and love the nasal mask best. But sometimes my mouth opens in the middle of the night and air passes out my throat.
I'm thinking of using a chin strap in combination with nasal mask. Is that a popular way to go?

Advice on a good one to use with mask would be welcomed.

-------------
BTW, I went to a local med supply store to get one (not a patient there) and they wanted a Rx for one.
Are you effing kidding? It's a strap ffs! Little different than a knee brace which I can get at CVS.
I'll get one on Amazon.
Just like when I get replacement headgear and masks etc.

Hi WavKing,

I love your positive attitude and openness for trying different masks. I too really like the nasal mask. I also can't seem to keep my mouth shut. I tried: 1)Polident to glue my mouth shut, but I didn't like it. 2) A chinstrap from Amazon 3) Surgical tape. I really like the tape, although I still have some panicked anxiety now and then about wearing the mask and having my mouth taped. Most nights it worked for me.

I just could not get into the chinstrap. I wish I could convey that inability to use it effectively in objective terms, but it just didn't work for me and I would take it off in the night. I don't take off the tape, even though I could. Different strokes for different folks, and it may work for you!

Hope you find the perfect solution and snooze well.
GB

Hello Wavking... consider trying a cervical collar. They can be found just about anywhere (Amazon, Walmart, etc.), and don't require a script. It seems they have helped many people. Be sure to get your correct size and made of a soft cotton material. Also, if you do a search here, you'll see many threads about the usefulness or not, of cervical collars.

Note that some mouth-breathing/leaking does occur even with chin straps (as mentioned by many on the forum) since air can still escape through the lips as a closed jaw alone doesn't create an air-tight seal - the example of being able to breathe through your mouth while awake with a closed jaw and clenched teeth has been cited. It's also been mentioned that chin straps can counterproductively push the jaw back and lead to airway events that are detrimental to xPAP therapy. I've read reviews of various chin straps and this phenomenon seems more common in certain types of chin straps, so I'd suggest reading reviews on CPAP dot com if you haven't already.

I mouth-breathe while sleeping and use a nasal mask with the generic Philips Respironics "Deluxe" chin strap. It's wide and covers much of the sides of face/ears, but has actually been fairly comfortable which I found surprising. It has been keeping my jaw closed and leak rate to a minimum. My snoring numbers have been higher since using this chin strap, so I've had to make sure the strap is holding the jaw up and forward and not back towards the airway. The strap I've been using seems to work properly. An increase in my minimum pressure has resolved the spike in snoring. Good luck in finding the right solution for you!

I use the Hybrid FFM. A nasal pillow/mouth seal mask. Has a much smaller mouth area to seal. Also, has a chin flap, so no chin strap is needed. Kit comes w/three sizes of cushions and nasal pillows. Might want to take alook at it. Link is in my equip list below.
Cheers,
otrpu

I may have to give that one a try.
I like the nasal pillow in concept. But twice I tried them
And I wake feeling like I got hit in the nose. The strap pulled
In the wrong way and no way to avoid it. But this looks different.

I have tried the hybrid masks, but had massive leaks no matter how I adjusted them. I finally settled on the Amara Vies mask. I sits under the nose and does not go into the nose like the nasal pillows do.