10-04-2024, 07:42 AM
RE: What was your experience fighting mouth leaks?
I *might* have figured out why I've been getting air in my mouth despite taping my mouth and seeming to keep my tongue planted on the roof of my mouth -- fingers crossed. I think my mistake was closing my jaw all the way, with teeth touching. That let air in around the sides, even while I was awake in bed. Last night I let my jaw open a little, so the sides of my tongue touch my cheeks, and had zero leaks. I'm not sure if this is relevant or what is normal, but I have a wide tongue and narrow palate, so my tongue does not fit easily inside my teeth.
Even with the right tongue position, I expect I will continue to need something to keep my jaw from dropping wide open; I have my whole bed at an angle to fight GERD, so gravity tends to pull my jaw down. Right now, mouth tape is doing the job. I've been cutting little holes in it to let air escape when it does get in, since it's air buildup in my mouth that wakes me, not leaks. Still waiting on the Myotape.
The Knightsbridge Dual Chin Strap was a bust. It dug into the top of my neck in a way I found incredibly uncomfortable, much worse than any full-face mask I've tried. It fits me the same way it fits their models, so I think I must just be sensitive to pressure there. I also found myself fighting hard to open my jaw a little -- again, tongue doesn't fit. I didn't try to sleep with it on. I may try to knit myself something with the same shape but a softer material. Other chin straps make it harder to breathe by shoving my jaw backwards.
Anyway, all in all, things have gotten a lot better. The biggest change is that I learned to sleep quite soundly through leaks not long after making this thread.
Even with the right tongue position, I expect I will continue to need something to keep my jaw from dropping wide open; I have my whole bed at an angle to fight GERD, so gravity tends to pull my jaw down. Right now, mouth tape is doing the job. I've been cutting little holes in it to let air escape when it does get in, since it's air buildup in my mouth that wakes me, not leaks. Still waiting on the Myotape.
The Knightsbridge Dual Chin Strap was a bust. It dug into the top of my neck in a way I found incredibly uncomfortable, much worse than any full-face mask I've tried. It fits me the same way it fits their models, so I think I must just be sensitive to pressure there. I also found myself fighting hard to open my jaw a little -- again, tongue doesn't fit. I didn't try to sleep with it on. I may try to knit myself something with the same shape but a softer material. Other chin straps make it harder to breathe by shoving my jaw backwards.
Anyway, all in all, things have gotten a lot better. The biggest change is that I learned to sleep quite soundly through leaks not long after making this thread.
