Tap Pap Review

I just received my Tap Pap a few days ago, so here's what I think of it so far.

This has been my first nasal pillow mask, and I was surprised that I actually liked the pillows. When I had my titration study done, I tried them on and took them off immediately. The first night I used the Tap Pap, it was okay. My AHI was triple what it normally is, but still below 5 so that's ok. The second and third nights, however, have been terrible. I go to bed at 8am (yeah, AM) and both days, I woke up at 11:30 with my teeth just killing me -- particularly my right-side central and lateral incisors. I had to take the Tap Pap mask off and put on my Quattro to be able to sleep.

I've refitted the Tap Pap 4 times trying to make sure that A) it will stay put with the mask's weight pushing down on it and B) not putting too much pressure on my front teeth. I've not been able to achieve both goals simultaneously, unfortunately.

I can imagine the mask being great for those people whose teeth it doesn't hurt since it's light and otherwise comfortable, though!

It took me about 2 weeks before the tooth discomfort went away but it never was horrible discomfort. Slept like a baby from the very first night. I only had some minor discomfort short term after I removed the mouth guard that lasted a couple of hours in the morning.
Does it slide on and off easily or do you have to tug on it a bit to get it off?

It takes a small bit of pressure to get it off, but not much at all. Yeah, the pain is very uncomfortable, like something literally pushing my teeth for 3 straight hours. I want to like it..I want to! It's so much less hassle than the quattro, but if I can't get the tooth pain figured out, I'll have to send it back.

Are you using the original thicker mouth guard or the new thinner mouth guard.
The thinner mouth guard doesn't have any plastic behind the front teeth.

I can put my mouth guard on with one finger and remove it with one finger. Maybe you have it still too snug.

I'm using the newer one. I almost wish I had the first gen one since then maybe pressure would be pushing against the back of my teeth instead of the front.

I'll keep trying to get a good mold. For yours, if you open your mouth with the full mask and hose on, does it budge?

No, if I open my mouth or move the hose the mouth guard doesn't really move. It's loose enough that I can sort of wiggle my mouth a bit and it will tend to move a tiny bit but with my mouth shut it doesn't move...so I guess it can move with a really big yawn but quite secure if I keep my mouth closed.

No..you don't want the older version...it actually caused more pressure I thought.

Try doing the boil thing again and this time when you fit it just barely suck so that it isn't so tight. Let it cool totally and completely in your mouth. I found that it seemed to shrink a bit if I took it out too soon and that made it even tighter.
It doesn't take much sucking at all to get it to fit. This is what I did this last time..just a tiny bit of sucking and then just let it cool for about 10 minutes before taking it off.

Alrighty. I'll give that a shot

BigBennyB wrote:
I've refitted the Tap Pap 4 times trying to make sure that A) it will stay put with the mask's weight pushing down on it and B) not putting too much pressure on my front teeth. I've not been able to achieve both goals simultaneously, unfortunately.
!

Can you describe what you mean when you say the mask's weight pushing down on it? I use the Tap Pap and I can't picture what it is you are referring to.

ughwhatname wrote:

BigBennyB wrote:
I've refitted the Tap Pap 4 times trying to make sure that A) it will stay put with the mask's weight pushing down on it and B) not putting too much pressure on my front teeth. I've not been able to achieve both goals simultaneously, unfortunately.
!

Can you describe what you mean when you say the mask's weight pushing down on it? I use the Tap Pap and I can't picture what it is you are referring to.

Mainly, gravity. Since all the weight is up above, gravity pulls it down

BigBennyB wrote:

ughwhatname wrote:

BigBennyB wrote:
I've refitted the Tap Pap 4 times trying to make sure that A) it will stay put with the mask's weight pushing down on it and B) not putting too much pressure on my front teeth. I've not been able to achieve both goals simultaneously, unfortunately.
!

Can you describe what you mean when you say the mask's weight pushing down on it? I use the Tap Pap and I can't picture what it is you are referring to.

Mainly, gravity. Since all the weight is up above, gravity pulls it down

I'm surprised you have that experience since the tube routes overhead. I don't find any particular pressure from the mask. It sits at my nostrils very loosely and with the tube routing overhead, I don't see gravity being a problem for me. The only troubles I have are when the tube is caught up and pulls on the mouthpiece.

Could the problem be an adjustment is necessary for the angle of the nasal pillows versus the mouthpiece fit?

ughwhatname wrote:Could the problem be an adjustment is necessary for the angle of the nasal pillows versus the mouthpiece fit?

I'm not really sure. I remolded it and I'll try it again when I head to bed here soon.

Okay I paid special attention to mouth guard fit last night. With a big yawn it doesn't move..with or without mask pressure flowing.
The only time I have had the "weight" of the hose, plastic barrels want to pull the mask down and thus loosen the mouth guard was when I didn't have the screw tight enough to secure things.
I readjust the screw tension every night. It's a bit awkward for me to try to put the guard back in and fiddle with the pillows in such a cramped area...besides when I remove the mouth guard each morning I take it to bathroom where it gets brushed along with my teeth and if I try to clean it so close to the nasal pillows they they get wet and it's just more work for me. The nasal pillows don't get washed but once a week or so.

For me, when I yawn, the mouthpiece doesn't move, but the pillows leak around my nose like crazy. But this is acceptable, cause they don't leak unless I yawn.

What has been irritating me recently is the swivel joint. With any pressure on it at all, it will not swivel, so I turn over, the hose binds. This has just started, didn't do it when new. All it takes is to reach up and remove the pressure off the hose, but again, that's a motion you only can do when awake.

Still think the Tappap is the best thing out there..

Well, I remolded it and I wasn't even able to fall asleep before my teeth were aching. I'm not sure if my teeth/jaw is shaped weird so that I would have all these problems, or if I'm just very sensitive to the pressure of something pushing on my teeth.

If I mold it so the front teeth don't have much pressure on them, the mouth guard won't even stay on if my bottom teeth aren't pressing it upwards. If I mold it so it does push against my front teeth, it'll stay put, but the pressure just turns into ache.