How to Stop Exhaling Through Mouth with a CPAP
You put on your nasal shell, adjust the tubing, turn on your continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine and settle in for a restful night's sleep after a busy day only to awaken suddenly, gasping for breath because air has leaked out of your mouth instead of traveling down the trachea to your lungs. "Mouth leak," exhaling through the mouth instead of the nostrils, is a common problem for sleep apnea patients who use a CPAP machine. Before you give up on CPAP, experiment with different methods to keep you exhaling through the nose and sleeping soundly through the night.
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Instructions
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Focus on controlled inhaling and exhaling through your nose for at least two minutes before falling asleep.
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Use a heated humidifier to prevent stuffy or dry nose, which leads to exhaling through the mouth instead of the nose.
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Wear a chinstrap or FDA-approved adhesive chin strips to help keep your mouth shut.
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Tape your mouth shut.
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Wear an athlete's mouth guard, which helps keep the mouth shut and also helps prevent teeth grinding.
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Switch to a full face mask, which covers both the nose and the mouth.
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Talk to your doctor or CPAP provider if problem persists.
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Tips & Warnings
Rent equipment before buying to ensure the product is right for your needs.
Discuss costs with your insurance provider before upgrading or switching to new equipment.
