Oral-Only CPAP Mask Sounded Perfect for Me

Part of my journey with sleep apnea has been to fix issues that were created when I had a cyst biopsy done through my nose. That surgery left my septum twisted and scar tissue over half of my nose, making it hard to breathe out of my nose.

I have never been able to use nose pillows or nose-only masks successfully.

Finding my unicorn CPAP mask

I was up one night and started searching online for mask options for mouth breathers with sinus problems. Eureka! I found my unicorn mask, and I had to order it.

The Fisher & Paykel Oracle Oral CPAP Mask was the first oral-only mask I had seen, and I could not wait for it to arrive. It did not have the clunky headgear, with just one single strap that goes around the back of your head. With the bridge of my nose being sensitive after surgery, the fact that this mask did not have to go over my nose was another great feature.

Lightweight, small, and easy to put on

I opened the package, and this mask was extremely lightweight and tiny compared to the other masks I had tried. The entire mask and strap could fit in the palm of my hand.

Right out of the package, it was easy to get on, and while I had it on before hooking it up to the machine, it did not feel bad on my face.

A difficult first night

However, it felt totally different once I hooked it up to my machine. The minimal contact points of the oral-only mask made it easier to have leaks. While my CPAP ramped up, I had to tighten it 3 times.

Also, the minimal headgear while moving made it easy for the mask to shift. I have restless legs and move a lot in my sleep, so that is not ideal with this mask type. My unicorn mask that was perfect from the description turned out to be horrible for me. I was ready to throw it in the trash after the first night.

The next night was even worse

I am not a quitter, and I know that any mask takes some time to get used to. After only being able to tolerate it for 2 hours, I then ripped it off. The next night I pulled up a YouTube video to ensure that I had it on right, adjusted it, and got ready for bed. The next night was even worse.

Since it had so few contact points or harnesses to keep it from leaking, once the oral option got going, it had to be extremely tight and any movements or turning could loosen it. I managed to make it about 4 hours the second time, but I woke up with a lingering pain around my mouth where the mask made contact. See the picture below of my first night with the mask on.

Oral-only was not good for me

As a hopeful CPAP user watching the styles and technology change over the past 20 years, there have been many innovations in both the machine and the mask options. The oral-only mask was not a good fit for me, even though the description sounded like it was created just for me. After 3 nights, I was done with that mask and went back to the drawing board with a full-face mask.

Now I can say that I've tried every mask except the full-face mask style that covers around your entire face. The idea of having the air blowing in my eyes has made me steer away from the mask, and it looks like a space helmet.

Have you ever tried an oral-only mask? If so, what was your experience? Share in the comments below!