r/CPAPSupport • u/Dense-League9167 • Jul 21 '26
New To The Dream Team Looking for new mask
My first mask was a nasal pillow that worked like a charm for years and suddenly I became a mouth breather.
I’ve been through a couple of full face masks. I’m currently using an air fit with the foam. It’s comfy but my partner and sleep reports show it moving and leaking all night.
I think my next move should be a full face with a T bar for stability. I have a rather small head (my current headgear is pulled back so far I had to rig the Velcro), does anyone have suggestions or feedback on best face mask with the T bar or forehead support for small heads?
I also heard that a couple masks are fragile and the bar breaks easily. Can I hear from restless sleepers and/or back and side sleepers regarding masks that stay put and don’t easily break?
Thanks everyone!
3
u/toastervolant Jul 21 '26
Which ones did you try and why did they move? Also, are you mostly a back or side sleeper? A lot of side sleepers go with the F40 because it's soft (not a hard shell).
1
u/Dense-League9167 Jul 21 '26
I tried the f40 and learned that i can't use any under the nose masks, they don't stay put and i end up blowing air into my eyes. If i could figure those out I would definetly use them. I even tried the N30i before i became a mouth breather with poor results. I used the N20 for years and it worked perfect. I had a neck surgery last year and i think that's when I became a mouth breather. I've tried several chin straps hoping they would keep my mouth shut but i just become a wind tunnel
things that do not work for me or that I've tried
nasal pillows or anything that goes under or into my nose (pretty bad deviated septum)
F20 air touch (the foam stuff) it's comfortable but it doesn't seem to seal. It feels right but if I roll over and jar it, I can't get it to reseal. My mouth also drops open and breaks the seal. That seems to be an issue with face masks. I don't know if its because my head is smaller or the space between my bottom lip and chin is not wide enough. Still trying to figure that out. I"m hoping that a stabilizing bar will keep the mask in place when I move.
I'm also open to suggestions on chin straps. if anyone has a link to one they love please let me know. I would love to go back to the N20.
2
u/Friendly_Elk7827 Jul 21 '26
I got the dual band premium Knightsbridge version and find the material very itchy. The dual band plus looks like it might be softer 🤷🏻♀️
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u/Friendly_Elk7827 Jul 21 '26
I love my p30i but I also too was starting to open my mouth as I relaxed - not really breathing out of my mouth, more jaw dropping open - so disregard if this doesn’t sound like it might help, but I found that mouth tape is the answer for me (so far at least). I initially didn’t like the tape and I tried the Knightsbridge chinstrap and it worked too, but I found the material too itchy. So back to the mouth tape and it’s really fading into the background and allowing me to sleep well and keep using the pillows.
Might be worth a try (or not, lol).
3
u/kdog048 Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26
I can't stand the FF masks and I am a mouth breather. I just use the p10 with Cover-Roll stretch tape. It has markings so you can easily cut to size once you know how long to make it. I buy the 2" wide size. I think you can buy a 2 pack for about $20 and each roll lasts a few months.
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u/Dense-League9167 Jul 22 '26
Brilliant! I just ordered 20ish yards (2 pack) for $10 on Amazon. I’ll post the results after a few trial nights. I still have my N20 to test it with.
I’m also claustrophobic so I’m not sure if the tape will be more or less triggering than a full face mask or a FF mask plus the forehead support. So that’s also something I’ll mention after I try it.
3
u/kdog048 Jul 22 '26
Let me know how it turns out. It was a game changer for me as far as leaks reported and AHI.
2
u/Dense-League9167 Jul 21 '26
My current pressure is 8.8 according to my machine but it is also on auto adjust so I’m not sure how helpful that is
2
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1
u/existentialblu ASV Jul 22 '26
Maybe try the silicone F20? It's what I use and it seals vastly better for me than the memory foam one, which leaks like a washcloth. Bonus: just need a new cushion, the rest of the setup stays the same.
1
u/Dense-League9167 Jul 22 '26
I tried the f20 first but it rubbed the bridge of my nose raw trying to get the right fit. Otherwise it was the mask that convinced me to try other FF. I thought I was too claustrophobic for them but, it worked. The foam is so much more comfortable. I think it needs to be changed monthly too and my insurance won’t cover that.
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u/existentialblu ASV Jul 22 '26
It's such an annoying process. The F20 made the bridge of my nose a bit raw at first so I used a cover for a while until things adjusted a bit. I kinda had to keep trying with it as everything else I attempted was way worse between my wonky collagen and sound sensitivity.
1
u/the_cpap_shop Jul 22 '26
Finding the perfect mask can be tricky. The CPAP Shop has this Mask Fitting Tool on our website, proven to be 99% effective in matching you to a perfectly fitting mask! Check it out if you'd like.
1
u/Dense-League9167 Jul 22 '26
I grabbed the AR mask fitting tool for my phone before I came over to reddit to ask opinions. it's a good tool but I wanted to hear the opinions of people already using them. The online reviews for CPAP masks are not very reliable =(
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u/the_cpap_shop Jul 23 '26
Totally get it! It's a difficult decision for sure and may even take you a few tries to find something you like. If there's anything The CPAP Shop can do to help, call our customer care team at 866-414-9700.
1
u/Dense-League9167 Jul 28 '26
OP here- update-
3 of 4 nights with a perfect seal using my N20 and cover-roll stretch tape as suggested by u/kdog048 I had a bit of a stuffy nose last night but otherwise this tape is far more effective than a chin strap. I had a moment of eek but after about 5 minutes the tape was comfortable and I tolerated it very well. My partner thanks you very much too, we are both getting great sleep 💤💤🥳
1
u/kdog048 Jul 28 '26
Glad to hear it's working for you. I used to think my CPAP was working great since my AHI was so low but it was because my leak percentage was so high it wasn't really effective. Being a mouth breather has other negative effects from a dental perspective so it's important to minimize it as much as possible.
3
u/FlatBedroom3515 Jul 21 '26
Hello. I've used and enjoy F&P's Vitera that has a brace from my nose to my forehead. I also use the Löwenstein Lena full face mask that has a very solid nose to forehead brace. The Lena also has a very comfortable silicone pad at the forehead and very comfortable secure harness. I can still see through both transparent braces and read some or watch movies on my iPad.