Fehrenbach16, I use the Mirage Quattro, FFM's are very hard to master due to us all having difference sized faces. There is a new Resmed FFM on the market called the Quattro Air, I have heard good reports it is lighter than the other masks. I'm due for a change soon as I have had mine for about 2 and a half years so will give it a try.

try to become a nose breather as its much better for your health

Harry, no disrespect meant here but I for one do not CHOOSE to be a mouth breather when I lay down. It is not simply a slack jawed habit. I hear people say they tape their moths shut. If I did that I would suffocate or at least feel like it. When a person falls asleep their body determines what it needs and if the brain says I need more air , open your damn mouth...guess what...the mouth opens.

mouth breathing dries the teeth causing more tooth decay, the nostrils humidify the air
try taping the lips and relax

To reiterate what CecilBGreen said, I did not choose to be a mouth breather and was just asking other masks worked for mouth breathers.. That's why we have this support group, to get support and advice.

It has a lot to do with the way your sinuses are built. Some who have a deviated septum or large tonsils can't get enough air through the nose, so they must breathe through their mouth. My dear friend's daughter wouldn't hardly eat because she couldn't get any air through her nose and felt like she was suffocating. They finally talked the doc into removing her tonsils. It was like a miracle. She could now breathe through her nose. Yea!

Harry, I'm not trying to be contrary. Nose breathing IS better, if you can breathe through your nose. I am a nose breather myself, and when I have nasal congestion, I must take a decongestant just to be able to breathe.

Everyone is different. That's why there are so many different masks available. We each have to find the one that works best for us.

I couldn't use a ffm because of anxiety/claustrophobia so I found an Eson nasal mask by Fischer & Paykel with a chin strap works for me. I can still open my mouth if I need to but it doesn't just fall open while I sleep.

Hey guys,

You are certainly asking about a very troubling issue for many CPAP users. Like you guys, at the beginning, I could not help but mouth breath. There was no way around it.

Here is what helped me. You need to sleep with your tongue on the top of your mouth to keep the CPAP air from going in your nose and directly out your mouth.

This simply takes practice and time. It took me about two months to train my body to sleep with my tongue on the roof of my mouth. This opened a whole new world for me as I no longer had to use a full face mask.

Now, I was able to use the nasal prongs which are so much easier to use. Plus, you can put your glasses on and read yourself to sleep if you like since you don't have an alien on your face any longer.

Try it. It works if you keep at it.

Best regards,
TheWino

I've been a mouth breather for as long as I can remember and after trying out a few different masks, the one that's worked best for me is the ResMed Ultra Mirage Full Face Mask.

Welcome Matt, I like the Resmed range I have just started using the Quattro Air their newest FFM and are getting much less leaks.

Fahrenbach,

I just thought of an idea that may solve your problem. It worked for me. There are two 'Hybrid' masks available named 'Hybrid Full Face Mask with nasal pillows' and the 'Mirage Liberty Full Face Mask with nasal pillows".

These are fantastic masks to help you transition from mouth breathing to nasal breathing. Both of these masks cover your entire mouth AND have nasal pillows. So, you have the opportunity to breath through your mouth while you practice with the nasal pillows.

I utilized the Mirage Liberty for about two months and this fully prepared me to switch to nasal pillows only. I believe you will find using nasal pillows over a full face mask to be much more comfortable.

Best wishes,
TheWino

I use nasal pillows and a chin strap did not keep me from mouth breathing. After some advice on this and other sites I started taping my mouth with 1 inch paper tape. It's been working well for about a year.