Question Regarding Dental Issues

[Madalot]

It just seems like I can't cut a break for very long --

I am experiencing HORRIBLE tooth/gum pain in the last month or so. It was pretty much located only on one side, but eating or drinking anything on that side almost brought me to tears. I've tried being extra diligent with my cleaning routine and purchased the toothpaste for sensitive teeth. None of this has made any difference. Now the problem is on the other side too! Ugh.

I have significant sinus issues and am almost always congested -- thus going to the full face mask so I could breathe through my mouth. Would this problem be any better if I tried a nasal mask again rather than sticking with the full face mask?

One of the things that has been half freaking me out is the thought that my doctors/dentist may suggest going to a trach to solve this.

[karl9000]

Try finding a dentist who also has apnea and is using APAP/CPAP. I have one and he's been very good to work with. I just started APAP a little over a month ago. I've been using a snore guard for years before going to APAP, and I've continued using the snore guard. I've been having some teeth pressure pain and mentioned this to him. He didn't know I was using the snore guard (a previous dentist) or on APAP. He had me bring the snore guard in, looked it over, and said some recent dental work (3 crowns) changed my teeth profile just enough that the snore guard didn't fit. So we're doing a new snore guard next week and he's givin me a great dicount since poor fit was caused by dental work.

I would have done a new snore guard 2 weeks ago but I wanted to solve my mouth breathing problems with my Opus nasal pillows first. I've been using the Innomed Hybrid since Tuesday night, and the change in leakage rate had been rather phenomenol. I still have some minor fit issues to work through but I htink I can get my leakage rate down to next to nothing. The snore guard helps in that it hold my teeth in place, and doesn't let my jaw drop down or backwards, This helps a lot with the hybrid, IMHO.

But find a dentist who knows about sleep apnea, preferrably first hand experience.

[Julie]

Two things - #1, have you seen a dentist to make sure you don't coincidentally have something like an abscess going on? #2 - Turn your humidifier down and see if it helps with congestion - it often does.

[Madalot]

Thanks for the input. As far as finding a dentist, that's way easier said than done because of where I live. Finding a competent dentist can be a challenge and one that truly understands sleep apnea and its treatment could be next to impossible. I think what I may do is talk to my DME and see if they've ever had anyone complain of it and if they know of a dentist that might be knowledgeable.

The ventilator doesn't have a humidifier, so it's not from that. But I have to admit that my teeth problem has surfaced since the ventilator -- perhaps I NEED moisture. I don't know.

I also don't have dental insurance which makes this even more of a problem.

[Julie]

The point is that you may just need a regular dentist to check out your teeth regardless of whether or not he knows about Cpap... that may have to come later, but at least you want to rule out regular dental problems.

[Madalot]

The point is that you may just need a regular dentist to check out your teeth regardless of whether or not he knows about Cpap... that may have to come later, but at least you want to rule out regular dental problems.

You're right. I should have been more clear that I understand that. My bad.

[NEW YORKER]

Recently I had to have a tooth pulled because it was cracked, maybe from grinding my teeth while I sleep, but I am still having sensitivity to the other teeth on the same side and my jaw is killing me. It has been two weeks since extraction and I am going back to the dentist today because of the pain. It has effected not only my jaw, but my ear and temples too. And my throat does'nt feel too hot either. I wonder if it is due to CPAP? And that full face mask of mine does'nt help, it adds to the pain to the jaw. I dont have any answers for you, I just wanted to share my pain with ya...

[Madalot]

Recently I had to have a tooth pulled because it was cracked, maybe from grinding my teeth while I sleep, but I am still having sensitivity to the other teeth on the same side and my jaw is killing me. It has been two weeks since extraction and I am going back to the dentist today because of the pain. It has effected not only my jaw, but my ear and temples too. And my throat does'nt feel too hot either. I wonder if it is due to CPAP? And that full face mask of mine does'nt help, it adds to the pain to the jaw. I dont have any answers for you, I just wanted to share my pain with ya...

I'm sorry you're having this problem. I personally think tooth pain is one of the worst!!

In truth, my teeth, gums and jaw really don't hurt unless I drink or eat something. That's one of the reasons I was thinking it MIGHT be sensitivity rather than a serious dental issue. But the toothpaste for sensitive teeth isn't making a difference.

I guess I really have no choice but to visit the dentist to make sure there isn't something else going on. Part of my problem is that I don't trust dentists very much -- I've had some very bad experiences with them insisting that I (or a family member) needed work that really wasn't necessary.

[Ruffinit]

I have had increased sensitivity with some of the teeth on the side I sleep on since beginning the treatment. I had previously thought that the sensitivity was caused from the higher pressure (18-25) but I recently got dropped from VPAP to CPAP and a pressure of 6-12 and have not noticed that the sensitivity has changed at all. I have read that it is a fairly common issue and my doc knows about it. As to what to do about it; nothing that I have heard, seen or read yield any answers.

[sleeplessguy]

I agree with everyone that you need to see a dentist to know what's really going on with your teeth. I also have sinus issues and occasional minor tooth / gum pain in my back teeth, especially when any pressure is put on the teeth, though not nearly as bad as you describe. My dentist told me that a sinus infection can cause tooth/gum pain in your back teeth, and prescribed antibiotics. After a few days of antibiotics, the pain went away and my noise cleared up! It might be something as simple as that, but you won't know until you see your dentist. He or she is the real expert.

Hope this helps, too!

[Madalot]

I agree with everyone that you need to see a dentist to know what's really going on with your teeth. I also have sinus issues and occasional minor tooth / gum pain in my back teeth, especially when any pressure is put on the teeth, though not nearly as bad as you describe. My dentist told me that a sinus infection can cause tooth/gum pain in your back teeth, and prescribed antibiotics. After a few days of antibiotics, the pain went away and my noise cleared up! It might be something as simple as that, but you won't know until you see your dentist. He or she is the real expert.

Hope this helps, too!

Thanks for the input. I was kind of hoping to get a fast answer about the FFM mask, but that wasn't realistic of me!! Despite what I WANT, I KNOW that the best answer is to see a dentist. Sometimes what we know is not the same as what we want.

Thanks everyone for the kick in the butt --

[NEW YORKER]

Just wnted to let you know that I went to the dentist and he checked my teeth and said he does'nt see anything wrong with my teeth. But with the pain in my jaw, my ear and my head, I went to see my doc and told her everything and she said it is allergies and prescribed some strong antibiotics. Maybe you are dealing with the same issues? I started taking the antibiotics so hopefully in a few days it'll get bettter?

[Julie]

New Yorker - are you sure your doctor/dentist was talking about a sinus infection? Sounds like it could also be TMJ, a problem where your jaw 'hinges' get slightly out of sync, and it's treated entirely differently from an infection.

[NEW YORKER]

Julie you might be right about TMJ. I did just have a molar pulled out so my jaw might be out of aliment. Also I think I have been grinding my teeth while I sleep. I am really not sure but I went to my dentist and he took x-rays of my back teeth and he also physically tested my teeth and said everything looks normal. So I then went to my doctor and told her everything I have been going through and she said it sounds like sinuses so she prescribed me strong antibiotics and wants to see me next week. It could be sinuses cause we are having some really bad pollen up here but then TMJ could very well be the problem. Thanks for the input, if they pain does'nt go away by next week I am gonna mention this to her and see what she says.

[cflame1]

New Yorker... if it's not what your doc thinks... then it's the dentist that'll be able to dx if it's TMJ... not the doc.

and Julie's right, the symptoms appear to be TMJ.