Efficacy of Cervical Collar for Keeping Jaw Closed?

I've seen some folks recommend using a foam cervical collar to keep my jaw closed during CPAP. How effective is that? I hesitate to try it because I very easily and quickly get to feeling like I'm choking even from wearing a shirt and tie. But if it works well, it might be worth a try.

One huge problem I'm dealing with is that my jaw drops open as soon as I fall asleep. I even use the Respironics Premium Chinstrap (http://imgcdn.thecpapshop.com/catalog/p ... ronics.jpg). But though that helps, the will of my jaw to fall open (and back into my neck) is powerful, and I still end up snoring and losing pressure through my mouth when using a nasal mask.

Any advice on this?

Thanks.

Ken

It didn't help me. I use a Pap Cap chin strap that works for me.

It's been very effective for some people - again, one of those things you probably need to try for yourself... not something to predict for another person.

The benefit to using a cervical collar is that it won't draw your jaw backwards into your throat. I have the same problem as you and find the collar to be the only effective option for me. At around 8 bucks, it's an experiment worth investing in.

For me, it works.
Except for rare nights, my leak rate is normally below that specified for my mask.
However, as you can see, I use an Oracle 2 oral mask and its leak pattern is likely different from nasal and full-face masks.
It does keep my jaw from falling and does not pull my jaw back as do chin straps.
With my mask, this difference is very important.

Didn't work so well for me, I too found it too restrictive. However, for $8 worth a try. For me, I had a high leak rake & tried experimenting with other masks & chinstraps. Still wasn't there yet.

I had to undergo orthodontic work & the Invisalign worked wonders. I no longer have anything on my leak rate. You might also want to try one of the OTC boil & bite nightguards. It was amazing to me how much difference having something I your mouth to bite on makes.

I would first recommend the Cervical Collar, its a tried & true method for many. If that doesn't work, try a boil & bite, that can't hurt & might help. I have so much in my mouth at night now, even if my mouth fell open it would probably not leak.

M'ohms wrote:The benefit to using a cervical collar is that it won't draw your jaw backwards into your throat. I have the same problem as you and find the collar to be the only effective option for me. At around 8 bucks, it's an experiment worth investing in.

Very true! I'd sacrifice $8.00 in a heartbeat if it helps. I'll write back with my experience.

Thanks to everyone else too! I may try both the boil-and-bite and cervical collar. And I'm going to check out the Pap Cap as well.

Cheers!

Ken

I'm too claustrophobic for a chin strap, plus, they're too hot.

The cervical collars are WAY too hot for my climate.

I made my own, out of a piece of 4" diameter closed cell foam cylinder. Cut of a 4" piece and drilled a hole longwise of the cylinder, stuffed a strap through the hole (half of a dead CL2 strap) and covered it with flannel. Narrow strap around neck, cylinder tucked up under my chin, holds my mouth shut nicely.

I call it my Brandy Keg.

Kiralynx wrote:I'm too claustrophobic for a chin strap, plus, they're too hot.

The cervical collars are WAY too hot for my climate.

I made my own, out of a piece of 4" diameter closed cell foam cylinder. Cut of a 4" piece and drilled a hole longwise of the cylinder, stuffed a strap through the hole (half of a dead CL2 strap) and covered it with flannel. Narrow strap around neck, cylinder tucked up under my chin, holds my mouth shut nicely.

I call it my Brandy Keg.

Thanks Kiralynx. Forgive my ignorance, but what is a CL2 strap? I have some closed-cell foam. I may try this.

Ken

KenTheriot wrote: Thanks Kiralynx. Forgive my ignorance, but what is a CL2 strap? I have some closed-cell foam. I may try this.

Ken,

Sorry about that. I shouldn't use abbreviations that aren't self-evident. CL2 stands for Comfortlite 2, a now discontinued mask by Respironics that was the first mask that worked for me.

Basically all you need is some kind of strap, made of whatever you're comfortable with, that you can easily fasten snugly around your neck to hold the wrapped closed-cell foam close. The CL2 strap, when cut in half vertically, is around half to three-quarters of an inch wide, and this works for me... but a narrower or wider strap might work for you.

I tried all kinds of things, sticking the foam in the corner of my pillow case (which worked, but then I had the problem of what to do when I rolled over on the other side), and all sorts of materials. We won't discuss my husband's comments when he saw two of the foam cylinders sticking up in the corners of my pillowcase. (It did work. It just wasn't esthetic or practical.)

Depends on WHY you open your mouth. I open my mouth when I have obstruction through nasal passage. If I can't open my mouth to breathe, I wake up like suffocating. So any contraption to keep mouth shut is counterproductive. Sometimes I can't breathe through my nose during the night. I've tried chin straps, Pap-Cap, mouth-taping. All of them cause me to wake up when I'm unable to breathe and can't open my mouth. Some people just need full face mask--no other option.

Unlike chin straps, tape, etc. cervical collars don't keep you from opening your mouth.
What they do is support your jaw so that when your muscles relax, your jaw is supported softly.
If you need to breathe through your mouth, you will be able to.

You may find this thread of interest from last year.

Slightly off topic since I've tried and discarded both the strap and the collar in preference to using the full face Quattro FX for the very reason that, properly adjusted, it keeps the mouth closed. I'd suggest it is not possible to adjust the mask properly if you are wearing it. In order to ensure symmetry of pressure on the face, beginning with the top straps, adjust one of them until it feels ok then take the mask off and, using the distance between the tip of the adjuster and the edge of the mask that crosses in front of it as a guide, make the other adjuster identical. Now you have perfect symmetry one side to the other at the top of the nose. The pressure must be sufficient to keep air from escaping in the direction of the eyes.

Then do the same symmetrical adjustment with the lower adjusters using the edges of the mask as a guide again. Once the pressure is right, you will find that you can tuck the lower edge of the mask under the lower lip to keep the mouth closed.

I also find this mask very easy to fit or remove. Hope that helps. Reg.

I use a Pap Cap and have on occasion used a soft cervical collar but I still will get "mouth flaps". I use listerine breath strips. Tear one in half and place both on moistened lips. Just enough stickiness to keep your lips from flapping but not to strong that you cant open them in an emergency or if your sinuses stopped up.