Does anyone have a way to stop breathing thru the mouth during sleep?

@sassymama3, I struggle with breathing through my mouth also. It's a fairly common problem for a lot of sleep apnea patients which I also have. I did try taping my mouth closed but it didn't really work for me and you might need to use special tape that isn't too difficult to take off of your mouth. You can also try a head/chin strap to keep your mouth from opening at night. I use XlyiMelts to help with dry mouth but they may not work for everyone.

While you wait for other members to respond, you might want to scan through comments from other members who have commented about being a mouth breather - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/comments/?search=mouth%20breather%20%20CPAP

I developed the same problem because I have a nodule in my nose. So sometimes when I wake up, I feel like my mouth has sandpaper in it. I’m not taking the nodule out yet. The only thing I can suggest is keep drinking water and have some sugar-free sucking candy

I use Breathe Rite strips (there are other brands, tape that goes over the outside of your now to pull your nostrils open a little) but they only help a little.

I had nasal, turbinate-reduction surgery ($100,000 worth of surgery, sigh) that was supposed to make breathing through my nose easier but didn't help. When I told the doctor, he just kind of shrugged.

So if you decide to go the surgery route, really check into the surgeon's rating; there's only one in my area and within 2 hours of my area who does that surgery so I was forced to use him.

I want to tell you that I also have the same problem. It turned out in my case to be sleep apnea due to my snoring, I found a company called the Chin-Up company. They produce an incredible tape that I used to cover my mouth at night. It comes in two shapes you can order free samples. I highly recommend it. It works great for me. I hope you will check it out. Good luck with your problem.

I also have had this problem, but discovered a company known as the Chin up company. Look them up online and they will send you free samples. There are two shapes of tape., the boomerang shape, and the horseshoe shape. I cover my mouth completely at night, and only couldn’t breathe through my nose be sure to check them out and good luck with your problem.

A company called the Chin up company produces a tape that I have used to keep my self breathing through my nose all night. They are on Google. They will send you free samples and I guarantee that if you use them correctly you will only sleep through your nose. Good luck. I hope you do better. What’s your problem?

@sassymama3 I’m a mouth breather also. Like John I too have sleep apnea. Have you ever been tested for apnea? I did my first test at a sleep lab. I couldn’t sleep so opted to try an at home test that showed I have mild sleep apnea. I’ve been using 3M paper tape on my mouth (and wear a night guard) for 4+ years now and it’s working out good. I get dry mouth occasionally and take a few sips of water when I get up to use the restroom.

No, I have not been tested for sleep apnea, but our daughter has & is supposed to us the machine, but she can't tolerate it and I know I could never tolerate it either. I have found that by using a King size pillow pushed against my mouth, keeps my mouth pretty much closed. I also have tried "self hypnosis", not sure if it is working, but I seem to wake up when I start breathing thru the mouth and of course, I go back to breathing thru the nose. Seems to be working for me. As a bonus, I have had chapped lips for several years and have asked different Dr's why and even asked Mayo clinic about it. Noone ever mentioned it could be because of breathing thru the mouth during sleep. Well, now that I have stopped a lot of the mouth breathing at night, my lips have actually cleared up. Thanks for your thoughts.

I will check them out. I am having some luck putting my king pillow firmly against my mouth and also trying self hypnosis. I think the self hypnosis is helping because I seem to wake up when I start breathing thru the mouth now. I must have been doing this for years as my lips have become so chapped and pealing. I had no idea why. I started waking up thru the night with a horrible dry mouth which I had to keep water available to stop it. This just started after having surgery and rehab. I had no idea why until I asked Google why the dry mouth. Now that I am aware of this breathing thru the mouth and having some luck stopping it, my lips are no longer chapped or pealing. I had asked my Dr why my lips were doing this and she had no answer. I don't know if having surgery would cause the dry mouth, but I sure didn't have the dry mouth before. However, the lips have been this way for years. Since the Dr didn't know why, I just assumed it was because of my age. I am thinking it must have been due breathing thru the mouth since it is so much better now that I having some luck stopping it. Thanks for your help.