[split]Mouth guard vs Chin strap

[Hanrahan]

Ah. Typical new user problem. Do you have an old ACE bandages around? Take one and wrap it around your jaw and head, like they used to if you had the mumps. You want it tight enough to hold your mouth closed when you relax but not so tight you cannot chew with effort. You want to be able to open your mouth in an emergency.

This is a poor man's chin strap. Try this for a night or two. If it works, and it helps keep your mouth closed, then you can get a real chin strap and use that. A full face mask (FFM) will also work but they tend to leak and are hard to fit. Try the chin strap first. It is quite possible that after a month or so, you can stop using the chin strap. What is happening is the air is blowing your mouth open. There's a trick to somehow another train your tongue to do something with the roof of your mouth but I've never managed to do it. Others can explain it better so I won't even try.

Hi Paula. I have a bit of a problem with my mouth opening and having the air blow out of the mouth is noisy, hence I'm sleeping in the spare room. I note your cheap fix with the bandage but I have wondered if a silicone "air dam" moulded like a sports mouth guard could work. Ever heard of one?

I have a dental appointment Wed soI might ask if I can remember.

[PaulaO2]

If your mouth is opening and air is leaking out, that's not just a noise problem, that's a treatment problem. And you need to come up with a solution if it is happening often enough to make the data invalid.

I know several people on this board use a kind of mouth guard thing as a way to help them keep their mouth closed at night. Most people use chin straps as it is just easier and less chance of lip leaking around the guard. There's a variety of chin straps available. Check the Review Forum for reviews on them.
http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Forum-O...ct-Reviews

My problem wasn't my mouth opening, but with lip leaking. Annoying as heck.