Dental Hygiene for CPAP users

[NWLambear]

Just had my teeth cleaned and dental hygienist recommended the following to me for care of my teeth because of wearing the CPAP at night. It seems that all the air blowing around your teeth and drying out your mouth/teeth can contribute to plaque.

Apparently your mouth drying out is not good for your teeth. She suggested in addition to brushing my teeth before going to bed (even said if I could stand it leave a little film of toothpaste (w/ floride) on my teeth) or rinse with mouth wash with floride.

Keep hydrated! Recommended having water by the bedside. And if not a glass or cup of water (which is easy to knock over.....I've done that!), she suggested getting one of those water container bags that hikers and bicyclists use...has a hose to sip from. You can hang it at your bedside. I got one at REI (just a plastic baggy thing, cap with hose screws on to it) and it is much easier sipping water from that (when you have a mask on) than trying to sip from a cup or glass.

Can't remember anything else right now....but wanted to pass this on to you. Don't remember ever reading (so far) anything about dental hygiene related to using CPAP. Has anybody else?

Happy zzzzzzz (I'm doing better with my mask now....had 10 nights with it and counting)

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): hose, CPAP

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): hose, CPAP

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): hose, CPAP

[dsm]

NW an interesting topic, don't think I can recall this coming up before but it makes a lot of sense.

Saliva is supposed to help minimise plaque.

Am interested to see what other comments this topic attracts.

Cheers

DSM

[inacpapfog]

Yup, NWLambear is soooo right about the dental issues associated with pap use. My dentist (who has been on cpap for over ten years! ) gave me pretty much the same directions about moisturizing the mouth. He also pointed out that the nightly use of some mouthpieces can, over time, contribute to gum recession. Particularly, if the dental device is worn without frequent (at least quarterly) inspection by your dentist. (Something about , teeth shifting and the device needing modification to accomadate the shift. Can't remember exactly.)

[Goofproof]

I think if you are doing the treatment right your mouth doesn't dry out. Using a HH and not breathing through you mouth should keep your mouth moist. If you are having trouble with that your mouth must be open.

Before I with CPAP, and had the Quad By-Pass, had to have water all night on the hour, with ice. I am diabetic, type II, I couldn't get enough water.

Now I wear a FF Mask 8 to 10 hours a night and only tank up on water just before I mask up. What a change, even in the hospital after surgery I had to have my ice water. With CPAP, I can now cut out the extra water bowl.

Good thing I nolonger have the dog.

[Jan in Colo.]

[quote="Goofproof"]I think if you are doing the treatment right your mouth doesn't dry out. Using a HH and not breathing through you mouth should keep your mouth moist. If you are having trouble with that your mouth must be open

That's what I was thinking also.....I don't recall feeling air blowing in my mouth.....I thought the air was just in my nose. Well, I'll try to notice tonight but I don't think so....

Jan in Colo.

[ehusen]

Hmmm, well I think I have found the exact opposite to be true. (Well once I found that taping my mouth shut was the only way to prevent mouth breathing). I believe my teeth are more healthy now than before CPAP.

Before I would snore and my mouth was basically hanging open all night and thus very dry mouth and worse teeth.

When I first started CPAP I had problems with mouth breathing. And you don't want that anyway. If you are venting air through your mouth then you ain't inflating your airways and not getting good treatment. So now I tape my mouth shut and I usually wake up with my mouth somewhat more "liquidy" then when I went to sleep.

I now have better dental checkups and my wife says I no longer have "morning breath". So for me CPAP has improved my dental hygiene.

Now for a FF mask it might be a different story since you can take air in through your mouth. But humidified air should make that a better situation as well.

[NWLambear]

I think if you are doing the treatment right your mouth doesn't dry out. Using a HH and not breathing through you mouth should keep your mouth moist. If you are having trouble with that your mouth must be open

That's what I was thinking also.....I don't recall feeling air blowing in my mouth.....I thought the air was just in my nose. Well, I'll try to notice tonight but I don't think so....

Jan in Colo.

Jan: Let me know what you notice tonight please. I may have to tape my mouth shut...or get a chin strap. But, I've tested...and if I open my lips slightly, I'll feel warm air coming from my mouth (I use the humidifier in my CPAP) so the air is in my mouth. I'll ask the technician about it when I go for my appt at LinCare next week. That's when he'll read the little card that's in the CPAP machine too. I'm not sure what that readout will tell us.

You know...I was thinking....I really don't "feel" the air going up my nose....or in my mouth....unless the machine really cranks up. Usually then it wakes me up and I have the "ramp" it down.

[Goofproof]

That is why I don't recommend using the ramp, if you body does get use to the treatment, it will accept it and not wake you up. Using the ramp is like using a crutch, as long as your brain has that to rely on is doesn't have to adapt to the treatment.

The crutch I do use is Cflex, but I think tonight I am going not to lean on it as hard. I checked last night it is set to 3 the lightest, tonight I will set it to 2 and see what happens with the stats. Lab Rat Time!

[weststew]

I've used a full-mask cpap for 4 years, now my dentist says I need gum grafts due to drymouth. Wish I had some warning about this when I first started but neither doctor or supplier mentioned it. Hope switching to a nasal mask will help without harm as I really need the air

[LSAT]

I've used a full-mask cpap for 4 years, now my dentist says I need gum grafts due to drymouth. Wish I had some warning about this when I first started but neither doctor or supplier mentioned it. Hope switching to a nasal mask will help without harm as I really need the air

I've used a Quattro FF mask for over 7 years without any mouth/gum problems. I have not haad dry mouth since I mostly keep my mouth closed. If you breathe through your mouth you will dry out unless you keep your humidity set high.

[49er]

I've used a full-mask cpap for 4 years, now my dentist says I need gum grafts due to drymouth. Wish I had some warning about this when I first started but neither doctor or supplier mentioned it. Hope switching to a nasal mask will help without harm as I really need the air

Hi weststew,

Have you considered getting a 2nd opinion just to make sure what your dentist is telling you is accurate?

By the way, because I had a problem with dry mouth, my dental hygienist recommended consuming xylitol during the day and it has been a godsend. I buy the powdered form and add it to my coffee. I think I read somewhere a good dose is 3 to 6mg.

To relieve dry mouth during sleep, you might want to try these items.

1. Xylimelts - https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i ... MCXXKH35TP
2. Orajel - https://www.amazon.com/Limited-time-off ... B004JCBH70

Best of luck.

49er

[sleepychar]

I started out using a nasal pillow mask (P10) and could not stop horrendous dry mouth even with chin strap, etc. I couldn't tolerate mouth taping. In addition to being really uncomfortable waking up with a leather feeling tongue in the mornings, in just a couple of months when I had my next dental cleaning, there was an incredible amount of tartar on my teeth. This was a complete change-about from my usual dental cleaning appointments where the hygienist would tell me how great a job I was doing with my mouth care and keep doing whatever it was I was doing. I am not particularly a mouth breather but air was going out my mouth with the nasal pillow. I switched, first to the Quattro Air mask with which dry mouth improved dramatically, and now to the Amara View with which dry mouth is almost non-existent. The tartar was so bad on my teeth from dry mouth that I could actually see it in streaks on my teeth. I am not seeing that now and I have my next dental cleaning appointment in a couple of weeks so I am interested in seeing what the hygienist says this time. I have added NEVER missing brushing my teeth before bed (previously would skip occasionally if I were really tired) and also added using mouthwash at bedtime. I am not using a fluoride mouthwash at this time, just Listerine. Will see what the results are and proceed from there. My dentist and the dental hygienist both told me that dry mouth does contribute to dental caries and gum problems.

[Goofproof]

I've used a full-mask cpap for 4 years, now my dentist says I need gum grafts due to drymouth. Wish I had some warning about this when I first started but neither doctor or supplier mentioned it. Hope switching to a nasal mask will help without harm as I really need the air

Odd's are what's really needed, you dentist needs new tires for his car. Jim