5 Tips To Help Your Dry Mouth When Using A CPAP

Now that you are getting a great night’s sleep with your CPAP machine, you may find that you are faced with a new problem. If you are like many others who use CPAP, waking up with a dry mouth may be a great concern and an inconvenience for you. Thankfully, there are certain tips and tricks you can use to deal with this common issue while still get the therapy that you need each night.

Add Humidification

The first step to take is to add humidification to your CPAP machine if you have not already done so. A heated humidifier moistens the air that is coming through your mask, which can help address a dry mouth as well as dry nasal passages as you sleep depending on the style of mask you have.

According to a 2017 article in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, dry mouth with CPAP can be notoriously difficult to treat and is also one of the most frequent reasons why individuals give up on using their machines. Dry mouth is caused when the flow of saliva is hindered through increased pressure in the oral cavity. Because this problem is difficult to address when using a positive pressure device, a good solution is humidification, which can at least provide some additional comfort during sleep.

Most newer CPAP machines already have integrated humidifiers. However, you can ask about getting a separate one attached to an older unit if necessary.

Consider a Full Face Mask

Many CPAP users find that mouth breathing is a huge problem for them. Some deal with mouth breathing only at night while others find that they routinely breathe through their mouths rather than their noses throughout the day as well. If this describes you, you may find that switching from a nasal mask to a full face mask can help.

Although a full face mask may seem difficult to get used to, it solves the dry mouth problem by ensuring that humidified air is going into both your nose and your mouth. You may even find that you get relief from switching between the full face mask and the nasal mask or nasal pillow every few days.

If you do choose to stay with a nasal mask alone, you may want to consider wearing a chin strap at night. These soft and stretchy straps keep your mouth closed, forcing you to breath through your nose alone. Not only can this decrease dry mouth, but also it can improve CPAP therapy overall.

Get Your Equipment Checked

If you have followed the first two steps but are still having issues with dry mouth, you will want to bring your CPAP machine in to be checked by a respiratory care professional. In some cases, older equipment may develop leaks if the flexible pieces have begun breaking down. Simply replacing certain pieces, such as hoses or seals, may be able to clear up the problem.

You should also have the fit of your mask checked. A loose mask can let humidified air escape around the edges, decreasing the benefits you should be gaining. If you have a newer machine, it may automatically alert you if there is a mask leak.

You should always have a professional check the fit on your mask. If you rely on tightening the straps alone, you could injure the soft tissues of your face without solving the main problem.

Use a Mouth Rinse at Night

If you wake up during the night, you can certainly take a small sip of water to remoisten your mouth. However, it is not ideal to force yourself to wake up to do this because it can significantly decrease the quality of your sleep. Instead, you may want to consider using a special mouth rinse, such as Biotene or Mouth Kote, which is designed for individuals with dry mouth.

You should only use an alcohol-free rinse because alcohol can further dry out oral tissues over time. Also, look for a rinse that contains xylitol, which is moisturizing.

Be sure to check with your doctor or dentist before using a special rinse, especially if you have other underlying medical or dental issues. By using this rinse at night right before going to bed, you will see the best results.

Another option is to use a neti pot or a nasal spray, which can deliver important moisture to dried out nasal passages and humidify the back of the throat. This can be used once or twice a day to ensure that your passages stay moist at all times.

Stay Hydrated All Day Long

If your body is dehydrated overall, you will have even less success in keeping your nasal and oral passages moist at night when using CPAP. Focus on proper hydration throughout the day to boost your success with these other tips.

Most importantly, you should drink 8 to 10 cups of water each day. Stay away from caffeinated drinks and alcohol, which can be very dehydrating. Instead, stick with water or water-based drinks, such as herbal tea or infused water.

Try to drink as much as you can in the evening to boost your success overnight. However, you will have to be aware of how much you can drink before bed to ensure that you sleep through the whole night. In addition, be sure to drink even more than the minimum if you have sweat a lot during the day, have completed a vigorous exercise or have been outside in the heat for some time.

Final Thoughts

If you are not having any success with these tips, you should check with your doctor or with an ENT specialist. It could be that the CPAP mask is not the cause of your problem but that a deviated septum or nasal polyps are to blame. They can also rule out other medical causes for the issue, such as diabetes or hypertension, and can help you get the high-quality, comfortable sleep that you need.