CPAP Therapy and Cracking Jaw

[Happy Girl]

I am a fairly new (60 days) CPAP user and have just in the past week started having a cracking/popping of my right jaw. I am using the nasal pillows and am a side sleeper. There is no pain so I am hopeful that this isn't TMJ. Has anyone else experienced this?

[nanwilson]

Morning Happy Girl and welcome to the land of hoseheads
You are probably clenching your jaw while you sleep, its not uncommon when first going on the hose.
I bought a cheap ($5) boil and bite mouth guard to stop me from doing it. Its the sports type that kids wear and fits on your upper teeth so when you clench your teeth at night you have a cushion there to help out.
Please fill in your profile by going to the User Control Panel and following the prompts, also make sure you add what equipment you are using, (script please not pictures). Once you have joined the forum, your info will be there so that we can help you out much more effectively.
Good luck and again welcome
Nan

[Pugsy]

Side sleeper? Which side is down? Same side as the cracking?

[gabs.herb]

Nope - I sleep on one side or the other, so not the same side every night.

[purple]

Have you tried using heat for a few minutes every day? Helps with mine, altho it is irritating to have another thing to do to my constant repertoire.

[peterg]

the $5 guard as suggested might work, but Ill just mention that I have bruxism, which is biting the cheeks and chipping of the teeth at night, and that required me to have a guard made up especially for it, a $5 one would not do for that particular problem. given that it is a similar solution as that suggested, you might like to discuss with your doctor or dentists especially if you are going to use one all the time. I would think that it could make for a worse problem if on all night every night, rather than just when playing sports. just suggesting caution.

[cflame1]

I agree with Peterg... but also want to add for TMJ you'd be well worth discussing it with a dentist as a $5 mouthguard could make it worse.