Grinding teeth

Hi all,
Although I've been on CPAP for about 10 years I just discovered this forum and it looks great. I have a question for you. I unfortunately grind my teeth-so bad I actually lost a couple of molars-and my dentist has me wearing a night mouth guard. It has certainly helped with my teeth but I'm starting to wonder if it is has a bad effect on the quality of my CPAP treatment. I'm somewhat of a mouth breather and I'm starting to see some OSA symptoms...I appreciate this could be another problem. Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience with a mouth guard and a CPAP machine and whether the two can coexist?
BTW,I saw some reference on another thread to taping one's mouth shut which has never occured to me...maybe I should give it a try?

I can't say I've ever used a dental mouth guard, sorry. But I'm glad it has helped protect your teeth.

Yes, I too have read about people taping their mouth, and some people use chin straps. But you ought to consider using a full face mask if you are a mouth breather and you're starting to notice OSA symptoms. I don't know if that interfers with the mouth guard. But you should really address the mouth breathing issue because mouth breathing with a nose-only mask simply negates any benefits of cpap. Good luck.

Linda

If you do a search for cpap and mouth guards you will find lots of info. It seems quite a few cpapers use mouth guards.
It would also help if you fill in your profile so others can see what equipment you have.

Brenda

I use tape with nasal masks, I have tried several fuller masks but they could not find one that fitted me well enough.
If you do tape don't forget to turn some of it under so that you can get it off in a hurry, the power went off one night so I was glad I had done that! not a nice feeling. I also clamp my lips together before I tape, it saves getting them stuck up or peeled, and its easier than lining inside in the middle bit as I used to do.

I wore a mouth guard for many years before xpap and still do. I don't notice that it interferes with my therapy. What type of guard are you using? I use a very small device that my dentist recommended after I ground through a more conventional retainer-type guard. The new one snaps over my 2 top front teeth and is about the size of the tip of my index finger. I posted a picture on this board a while back.

Just jumped into this chat to find out more about reading vibraory snore levels and noticed your post on grinding teeth. Ouch - I can truly identify with your problem, and probably along with that you suck on your tongue. I did this for a long long time - and then I had my dentist make me a soft mouth guard, not the high tech hard plastic one, he took a mold, and he poured a soft mouth guard used as a temporary, and when it gets a bit out of shape and startws to get gunky, I just get another one. He charged me $50.00 Canada to do it, and everytime I get a new softone he charges me $20.00 as he already has the mold. The hard one was no good as it is devised to protect your teeth from grinding, but it did not stop the tongue problem, and manyh times it fell out as it was hard., so this soft plastic has worked so well.


Well now that I have gone thus far - at night - I say, okay now I have my plastic mouth, my plastic eyes are out (contacts), and now I am going for my plastic nose hose, and pretty soon, I am certain down the road, I will end up with plastic knees. So for all of us with apnea, plastic is a special friend to all of us. LOL. Try it Hart - hope it works for you. Donna from Victoria, BC Camada

I should have mentioned also, I have tried several varieties of chin straps, they work somewhat, but with all the necessary equipment, it sure got hot, I have a high mien of `17, and went to the nasal air ~ it works wonderful, if you have a soft nose, and adding the mouth guard as I said, makes it just so much more comfortable. I tried the taping, but I ground so hard, I ate the tape. GD LK