Waking Up With Dry Mouth on CPAP? Could Mouth Tape Help?

You finally find a nasal CPAP mask that feels comfortable—then wake up with a dry mouth or hear air puffing through your lips. Could mouth tape help?

For some nasal-mask users, air escaping through the mouth can make therapy feel less comfortable. Mouth tape is one option people ask about, but it is not the right solution for every leak or every sleeper. The best place to begin is figuring out where the air is actually escaping.

Nasal CPAP masks and nasal-pillow masks send therapy air through the nose. If your lips open after you fall asleep, some of that air can escape through your mouth.

You might notice:

• A dry mouth when you wake up
• Air puffing or fluttering through your lips
• Your mouth opening as you drift off
• New airflow sounds noticed by your sleep partner
• A leak or mask-seal message from your CPAP machine

These signs can point toward a mouth leak, but they do not prove it. Dry mouth and leak alerts can have several causes.

Mouth tape can only address air escaping through the lips. It will not repair a worn cushion, loose connector or poorly fitting mask.

Inspect your CPAP mask parts, cushion, headgear, frame and tubing before adding another accessory. A stiff cushion, stretched strap or loose connection may simply need adjustment or replacement.

Not always. Dry mouth can also be related to mask leaks, humidity comfort, nasal congestion, medications or other health factors.

Look for more than one clue. If your mask seals well but you can feel air escaping through your lips, mouth leak becomes more likely. If dryness continues without an obvious leak, your healthcare provider can help you look at other possible causes.

If your healthcare provider agrees it may be appropriate, mouth tape might be considered when you:

• Use a nasal or nasal-pillow CPAP mask
• Can breathe comfortably through your nose
• Notice air escaping specifically through your lips
• Have already checked the mask and tubing for other leaks
• Understand the product directions and when to stop

Choose a product made for nighttime mouth taping—not household tape—and follow its instructions. One available option is the CPAPtape Mouth Tape for CPAP 90-Day Supply.

Remove the tape and stop using it if you experience breathing difficulty, panic, significant discomfort or skin irritation.

Each option approaches mouth opening in a different way:

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Your nasal breathing, mask fit, comfort and prescribed therapy all matter.

Mouth tape may help some nasal CPAP users reduce air escaping through the lips, but it will not fix every leak and it does not treat sleep apnea.

Start by checking your mask and equipment, pay attention to where the air is escaping and make sure you can breathe comfortably through your nose. If you are considering mouth tape, talk with your healthcare provider and use only a purpose-made product as directed.

This article provides general educational information and is not a substitute for medical advice. Contact your healthcare provider with questions about mouth breathing, nasal congestion, mouth taping or CPAP therapy.