Dealing with mouth leaks

Mouth breathing

• Is a common problem for CPAP and bilevel therapy users
• Mouth leak experience by around 40% of CPAP users1,2,3
• Mouth leak experience by almost all bilevel users1,2,3
• Commonly caused by chronic nasal disease
• Usually experienced from time to time, not all the time
• Can be made worse by:
  • Colds
  • Allergies
  • Alcohol consumption
• Causes high airflow in one direction and prevents moist air from the lungs passing through your nose. This results in drying of the skin in your nose, nasal congestion, and flu-like symptoms on awaking in the morning.

Increased nasal symptoms can worsen your sleep apnea and lead to increased nasal airway resistance. This in turn leads to further mouth breathing, thus perpetuating the cycle.

The result is loss of therapy effectiveness, loss of comfort, and disrupted sleep4 

The Full Face Mask solution

A full face mask covers both your nose and mouth so that effective therapy can be delivered even if you breathe through your mouth and experience leak.

Many people may need to use a full face mask all of the time. Others may find they only need it from time to time as an alternative to their nasal mask.

Full face masks are just one of a range of solutions that we offer to help you identify and manage mouth leak.

Masks systems

How do you know which people will need a full face mask?

Take a few minutes to ask yourself these questions:

1. Do you often wake up with a dry mouth and/or throat?
2. Do you tend to breathe through your mouth (rather than your nose)?
3. Do you suffer from allergies or hay fever?
4. Do you have a blocked nose/congestion at certain times of the year?
5. Have you ever had a broken nose?
6. Do you have a deviated septum?
7. Have you had previous nasal surgery?
8. Are you currently using any nasal therapy or medication?
   

In addition, if you are already using therapy with a nasal mask:
 

1. Are you continuing to snore even when using therapy?
2. Do you use a chin strap with therapy?
3. Is leak indicated by your flow generator data?

If you answer YES to one or more questions ... you may benefit from using a full face mask. Please consult your health professional.

Read Masks FAQs

References
1. Richards et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1996 Jul;154(1):182-186
2. Lojander et al. Act Otolaryngol 1999;119(4):497-502
3. Meyer et al. Sleep 1999 Jul; 20(7):561-9
4. Teschler et al. Eur Respir J 1999 Dec; 14(6):1251-1257