Nasal pillow/nasal mask with chin strap vs full face mask.

y08hci0299 wrote:My jaw falls open when I go to bed and air leaks out. Is it better to use a chinstrap to keep my mouth closed or get a full face mask? I am afraid that with the full face mask I will have dry mouth, and that I will swallow air and that I will get uncomfortable chipmunk cheeks when the air gets blown into my open mouth.

y08hci0299 wrote:My jaw falls open when I go to bed and air leaks out. Is it better to use a chinstrap to keep my mouth closed or get a full face mask? I am afraid that with the full face mask I will have dry mouth, and that I will swallow air and that I will get uncomfortable chipmunk cheeks when the air gets blown into my open mouth.

y08hci0299 wrote:My jaw falls open when I go to bed and air leaks out. Is it better to use a chinstrap to keep my mouth closed or get a full face mask? I am afraid that with the full face mask I will have dry mouth, and that I will swallow air and that I will get uncomfortable chipmunk cheeks when the air gets blown into my open mouth.

Jay Aitchsee wrote:Mouth leaks (pressurized air leaking from the nasal passages out through the mouth) are difficult to control because they are allowed by a failure of the of the back of the tongue to seal at the throat (velopharyngeal sphincter). An example of a proper seal can be experienced by noting the placement of the tongue when starting to make a "K" sound. Holding the tip of the tongue at the roof of the mouth behind the front teeth places the tongue in a similar position and aids in making a seal. People practice, and some learn, to keep the tip of tongue in this position while sleeping to help reduce leaks. "Learning" this can take some time.

People are often disturbed by the noise and feeling of these leaks and therapy effectiveness may be reduced by a loss of airway pressure with them. In Leak Graphics, mouth leaks are typically represented by longish, flat, plateau shaped traces.

Chin straps are often ineffective because they do not stop the air flow out of the mouth as can be seen by the ability to exhale through clenched teeth. But chin straps may help prevent mouth breathing (inhalation through an open mouth) which I see as a slightly different problem.

To prevent these leaks, air has to be stopped from flowing through the throat and out of the mouth. It can be done in one of three ways: Keep the tongue in the proper position, keep the lips sealed by tape or other means, or wear a full face mask. A full face mask eliminates the differential in pressure between mouth and nose which promotes the leaks. (Note: A FFM may eliminate mouth leaks, but might not prevent mouth breathing)

y08hci0299 wrote:My jaw falls open when I go to bed and air leaks out. Is it better to use a chinstrap to keep my mouth closed or get a full face mask? I am afraid that with the full face mask I will have dry mouth, and that I will swallow air and that I will get uncomfortable chipmunk cheeks when the air gets blown into my open mouth.