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Helsal
+0 points
·
about 4 years
ago
Original Poster
I'm not typically a mouth breather during the day, but with the nasal pillow mask I've been wearing, I wake up several times with air swooshing through my mouth. Will the TapPap keep air out of my mouth>
I have no experience with the TapPap, but I do use a nasal pillow mask and have issues with opening my mouth during sleep. My solution is to use mouth tape. I use 1" wide 3M Micropore tape. This is a good video on mouth taping by a dentist. According to the dentist it has some other benefits...
Helsal
+0 points
·
about 4 years
ago
Original Poster
Thanks so much for the link to the dentist. I see he's now (in a newer video) recommending SomniFix mouth strips. Unfortunately, when I use them, I still get periodic air swooshes from my mouth and I keep waking up on & off. Maybe the 3M Micropore tape would work better for me. I wonder if taping my mouth vertically would be better than horizontally. Do you have any experience taping vertically?
I have not tried the SomniFix strips, but from what they look like I suspect they would not keep my mouth closed. I started out using a 1" strip of Micropore tape horizontally, but found that was not enough for me. I suspect it might be better than the SomniFix though. Someone here suggested using Molnlycke Mefix tape cut off in strips 10 cm x 6 cm. What I found was that it didn't seem to hold up well to moisture. My last trick and current method is to use a 1" horizontal strip of Micropore first, with the Mefix patch over the top. That seems to hold up for me on most nights. You can get the Mefix at medical supply stores. I buy the 10 cm wide by 10 meter long rolls and cut it.
I would start with the Micropore tape which you can get at Walmart - 3M Gentle Paper. Then if that is not enough, then try the Mefix. And, as a last resort both.
Helsal
+0 points
·
about 4 years
ago
Original Poster
Thanks for this information. Last night I tried a 1" piece of Micropore tape, but I didn't like it for 2 reasons: First, I'd like a small hole to give me the feeling that I can get some air if I need it (like SomniFix strips, which don't hold up). Second, when I removed the Micropore tape very slowly, it really tugged at my skin and felt like it might actually tear it. By the way, I even tried the Micropore vertically, leaving the sides of my mouth able to draw in some air. I should have known doing that would bring the swooshing of air into my mouth. Any more suggestions?
I am out of suggestions, although you could try the Mefix tape alone to see if you like it better than the Micropore. I just lift my mask if I think I am not getting enough air. However, that almost never happens. Yes, you have to lift the Micropore tape slowly or it can damage your skin. I learned that from doing exactly that.
Sherry
-1 point
·
about 4 years
ago
Sleep
Commentator
I am a mouth breather even though I have worked hard to train myself otherwise. I manage well through the waking hours but not during sleep. I have had Sleep Apnea for decades and still struggle with a mask. I recently discovered a hybrid called TapPap. It is a dental component and nasal pillows combination. I enhanced it with a mouth shield accessory piece from Dr. Arthur Luisi in Naples, Florida. MyAir scores have been more consistently higher since using the TapPap and the accessory mouth shield. I have even hit 100 on a couple of occasions which is quite an accomplishment for me!
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