Chapped lips from a CPAP machine: what helps?

Why are your lips dry after CPAP?

Dry mouth means your mouth does not have enough saliva to stay comfortably moist. It can cause a sticky feeling, thirst, mouth soreness and cracked lips. Breathing through your mouth at night can contribute, including when a blocked nose makes nasal breathing difficult. Dry mouth can occur with a mask covering the nose and mouth or with a nasal mask when your mouth opens during sleep. It can also happen when your mouth stays closed, so mouth breathing is not the only possible explanation.145

What can you do today?

1. 1Apply a simple petroleum based lip balm as needed throughout the day. Avoid lip products containing phenol, menthol or salicylic acid, which can make lips drier.
2. 2Take regular sips of water during the day and keep water beside your bed for nighttime dryness. Water can moisten your mouth, but persistent dryness despite drinking enough needs attention.
3. 3Ask a pharmacist about a dry mouth gel, spray, tablet or lozenge if water alone is not enough. Get help choosing a suitable product rather than buying every format.
4. 4Contact your sleep team if dryness continues or interferes with using CPAP. Ask them to review the problem and your treatment data as part of troubleshooting.

Gels, sprays and lozenges are different formats for keeping the mouth moist, not three compulsory stages of a new routine. Sugar free gum or sweets are another option for temporary relief. If you have your own teeth, avoid acidic artificial saliva products.25

Would a bedroom humidifier help?

A bedroom humidifier can help moisten the air, especially if you breathe through your mouth at night. Dry air makes dryness in the nose and throat worse. This is a general dry mouth measure, separate from adjusting your CPAP equipment. Your sleep team should handle ongoing CPAP troubleshooting.234

Could something besides CPAP be contributing?

Medicines can also cause dry mouth, including antihistamines, decongestants and some antidepressants. Check the medicine leaflet and discuss suspected side effects with your prescriber; do not stop a prescribed medicine yourself. A blocked nose is also worth discussing with a pharmacist, particularly because some medicines used to unblock it can contribute to dryness.45

Brush your teeth twice a day and use an alcohol free mouthwash because dry mouth increases the risk of tooth decay. A mouthwash and a lip balm have different jobs, despite sharing a bathroom shelf. Avoid lots of alcohol, caffeine and fizzy drinks, along with acidic, spicy, salty or sugary foods, while managing dry mouth.5

When should you get medical help?

See a doctor if your mouth remains dry after a few weeks of home or pharmacy treatments. Get assessed sooner if eating or talking is difficult, your mouth is painful, red, swollen or bleeding, or you have sore white patches. Mention persistent taste changes, dry eyes or needing to urinate more often.5

If discomfort makes CPAP hard to use consistently, discuss treatment options rather than leaving sleep apnea untreated, which raises the risk of stroke and heart attack. A custom oral appliance can be an option for some people with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea who cannot use CPAP. It is less effective than CPAP and can itself cause dry mouth, so switching is a decision for your sleep specialist.67