cpap and dental decay

Sharon · Post by **Sharon** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 10:51 am

Any one out there seeing an increase in your dental decay since you have been using your cpap? My husband seems to be at the dentist every week for root canals or crowns falling off. If we can document a connection to the cpap maybe his health insurance will start paying for his dental. Our dental like most others doesn't pay for much.

Snoozin' Bluezzz · Post by **Snoozin' Bluezzz** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 12:15 pm

I can't think of any reason that caries should become worse if dental hygiene has not changed.

Mouth breathing could create a higher incidence of caries because, (and I am not a dentist) as I understand it, saliva and mouth moisture is preventative and dry mouth problems can increase caries.

Perhaps a mask/interface could put pressure on bite components or change alignment thereby making opening up old fillings or flexing crowns but that is just a remote guess.

Just a WAG

David

josh · Post by **josh** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 1:00 pm

Interesting question...

I have had 2 cavities in my life until recently...

I had the throat surgery to treat the Apnea, which has caused me to be unable to brush for about a month (I think...) for fear of throwing up (which is worse than anything in the world).

About 8 months later, I had 7 cavities, and periodontal disease. So in one aspect, the apnea caused it because I had treatment done which prevented me from brushing. Or, maybe it is from cpap...my diet hasn't changed.

And now the braces went on yesterday...my teeth need to be "interdigitary" prior to having an MMA done. So if it weren't for dental insurance, I would be out well over 10k this year!!!

And that is definately related to sleep apnea.

Argh.....

Darth Vader Look · Post by **Darth Vader Look** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 2:32 pm

Here is a link to a story done on the Damn Interesting site about tooth decay, what causes it and possible solution to it in the future. No where does it say that xPAP therapy increases or decreases cavities (well of course not).

http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=584

ladytonya · Post by **ladytonya** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 3:17 pm

My husband has a tooth that needs a cap because of grinding. He had never been told before that he was grinding his teeth, but since cpap apparently he has been. It would be interesting to know if someone could tie cpap therapy to tooth decay somehow.

z754103 · Post by **z754103** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 3:32 pm

Are people with worse dental problems using full face masks or nasal masks?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 3:51 pm

dentures have been around a lot longer than cpap machines. patients with OSA are nearly always found to also have GERD and to some extent bruxism.

GERD increases acid level in mouth, deteriorates tooth enamel, bruxism wears on teeth and can even cause them to crack or split.

Poor dental hygiene or even a family history can allow Periodontal disease to set in and take over and can wipe out teeth in as little as 6 months. Once Periodontal disease sets in it is very hard to get rid of, it deteriorates the bone surrounding the tooth socket, the tooth becomes inflamed, loose and falls out. You have to see a Periodontist to stop it. This is why your dentist uses a probe and measures the bone-loss around your teeth during a checkup, get over 4mm bone-loss and you have problems as you cannot brush down that far and your dentist cannot get down that far.

then it can be related to age, starts at or before age 50. Growing old sucks don't it.

CollegeGirl · Post by **CollegeGirl** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:27 pm

I was born with very little enamel on my teeth, and breathing out of my mouth from, like, day 1. So that nice little combination meant constant cavities for me until my dentist wised up and gave me prescription fluoride toothpaste just two years ago. I'm conscientious about flossing and brushing (and using the toothpaste the right way - that's important), and that's it. I'm celebrating my second year in a row with no cavities, and I've been on CPAP over a year now.

I imagine that if you were mouth-breathing at night with your CPAP, all that air drying out your mouth could definitely contribute to tooth decay. But in that instance, it's not really the CPAP that's to blame, it's the mouth-breathing. So if you think you might be doing that, do what you need to do to fix it, and ask your dentist about fluoride toothpaste (I use Fluoridex).

Stryker5777 · Post by **Stryker5777** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:09 pm

Would chewing a couple of ant-acids like Tums before and after sleep help with this problem? slow or prevent GERD from damaging teeth? Maybe not.. I don't know.

I seriously don't think there could be any real link between tooth decay and CPAP. Untreated apnea can have all kinda of effects on the body tho, ranging from immune system weakening, GERD, to glucose intolerance so yeah I could definitely see the connection there.

I know there's a new tooth paste (don't remember the name..?) that supposedly restores tooth enamel. I wonder if there's anytruth to it.

I like Thera breath brand myself. It seems to be the only brand that helps with bad breath and whitens teeth well. Its expensive as all heck though (Like 8.50 for a tube).

Stryker5777

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 4:57 am

I'd say it's likely a coincidental increase in GERD, very common past a certain age and with apnea.

z754103 · Post by **z754103** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 11:27 pm

Why is GERD related to apnea? Is there a causal link, and what would that be?

GoodKnight · Post by **GoodKnight** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 8:58 am

Yes, there is a link between apnea and GERD.
The extra pressure on your diaphram caused by the CPAP pressure pushes the acid in your stomach back up your esophogus. If you have a hiatal hernia it is even worse.

See your doctor for proper medication. Prilosec OTC works, but you need a doctor to properly diagnose it because it is a chronic condition caused by CPAP and needs continuous medication.

WillCunningham · Post by **WillCunningham** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 9:15 am

The way it was explained to me, GERD and Acid Reflux cause the soft tissues in your throat to stiffen and swell. The way cpap works is to spint open those soft tissues with the air pressure. When they are swollen and stiff, the soft tissue becomes resistant to cpap therapy and the air pressure cannot hold your airways open.

I have acid reflux and when I questioned my Dr about the above he was excited we had caught that and recomended pepcid AC. I don't know much about GERD but it sounds very similar to acid reflux to me. Hope that helps.

z754103 · Post by **z754103** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 2:14 pm

This is very interesting.... I have chronic heartburn which the doctors kind of do a yeah, whatever, you don't have an ulcer and there's nothing obvious wrong..... Is this something I can talk to my family doctor about, or do I need a specialist?

So CPAP causes GERD? Makes it worse? GERD contributes to apnea? GERD stops CPAP from working properly? All of the above?

Thanks so much to everyone, this forum is the greatest resource!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 3:19 pm

Wow, somebody needs to straighten out this thread. You can find good studies that say sleep apnea is a major causal factor for GERD (chronic acid reflux) and bruxism.

So successful cpap therapy can eliminate GERD and bruxism (but not undo the damage already done).

Mask

Additional Comments: Pressure setting: 9, EPR set at 2

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