Question following tooth extraction

Hello all! I've been a lurker for awhile, but finally registered to see if anyone here has experience or suggestions.

I use a Phillips Dreamstation that auto adjusts pressure. I currently use a Quattro Mirage full face mask, and even when also using nasal strips and the like, I often wake up with my mouth incredibly dried out and uncomfortable because apparently my mouth falls open quite often during my sleep. I've been meaning to talk with my doctor about trying a chin strap or other suggestions, but I haven't yet due to not having gone in due to Covid. Today I had a fully erupted wisdom tooth that's grown into the spot where a very back molar used to be pulled.

Anyways, my question is this — should I not use my cpap for awhile after I get my tooth pulled? It occurred to me this morning after waking up with a mouth that felt like a sponge left in the sun, that if that were to occur after my tooth is pulled and healing it could potentially cause problems with the healing, and either that in itself or that might contribute to dry socket or other issues?

I asked at my dentist but nobody ever actually gave me an answer. I know I would be pretty much okay a few nights without it, but I still prefer to use it. I have a lot of hypopneas when I'm falling asleep, but for the most part my average pressure stays around 6cm and my 90% pressure usually doesn't go above 10cm. Looking back through the past couple weeks my AHI has mostly been under 5, with a few higher nights where it was around 6-7. Perhaps I could prop myself up, use a Nasal strip to help open my nose up better, or sleep in the recliner?

Despite the scary name "dry socket", the problem occurs when the blood clot at the bottom of the socket fails. That's usually from sucking a straw or cigarette, etc.

I asked my oral surgeon about it and he was clear that cpap therapy should not be interrupted, at least in my case.

Ask your dentist if you're concerned about the dryness, but the cpap should be fine.

Also, won't your mouth get dry if you don't use cpap? Mine used to get very dry from snoring...

I have had 2 teeth extracted and used my cpap after each one. No problems.
CPAP is positive air pressure....it would only be a problem if it were negative pressure like what we do when sucking on a straw or smoking which is why drinking through a straw or smoking is something that they discourage doing for a few days after an extraction.

Pugsy, sorry to hear you had to have some extractions...... I am a cpap user now for 10 years and a dentist for 34 years. At our continuing education meetings i have not heard of any reasons to not use a cpap after an extraction. It does not seem to be a problem ; I would be more concerned about your skipping the cpap making your body not be able to heal as best as possible. I have worn mine every night since being given one and can tell it has made me feel better. Hope this helps, Mark

Mako19 wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 24, 2020 10:19 pm

Pugsy, sorry to hear you had to have some extractions...... I am a cpap user now for 10 years and a dentist for 34 years. At our continuing education meetings i have not heard of any reasons to not use a cpap after an extraction. It does not seem to be a problem ; I would be more concerned about your skipping the cpap making your body not be able to heal as best as possible. I have worn mine every night since being given one and can tell it has made me feel better. Hope this helps, Mark

I didn't ever skip cpap after my extractions...the person that started this thread was the one who skipped cpap.

whatathymeitwas wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 24, 2020 6:04 pm

this morning after waking up with a mouth that felt like a sponge left in the sun

You have a bigger problem than what is being addressed. It's a problem that leads to poor oral health and could be the reason that required a tooth being pulled. That problem is dry mouth. This needs to be resolved and there are several solutions. I hope you will address this in this thread. First, how often do you get dry mouth, and which mask are you using?

I had to have a tooth pulled for an implant. I used my pap machine every night, same as usual, with no problems.

Mako19 wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 24, 2020 10:19 pm

Pugsy, sorry to hear you had to have some extractions...... I am a cpap user now for 10 years and a dentist for 34 years. At our continuing education meetings i have not heard of any reasons to not use a cpap after an extraction. It does not seem to be a problem ; I would be more concerned about your skipping the cpap making your body not be able to heal as best as possible. I have worn mine every night since being given one and can tell it has made me feel better. Hope this helps, Mark

What this guy said, yes!

No vaping either!

Dry socket mostly happens with lower molar extractions, so the odds of having dry socket are exponentially lower if there was an upper molar extraction. I have pulled about 15,000 teeth and have only had 2-3 patients with dry socket from an upper molar. Also, I agree with what someone said earlier in this thread, that since there is positive air pressure from the machine, there is probably nothing to worry about anyway, as dry socket results from negative pressure that results from using straws and smoking.

As an aside, I just joined CPAP Talk a few minutes ago and am looking forward to learning how I can make CPAP therapy work for me, as I am struggling after having purchased 9 masks in the past 30 days now.

Robb wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 26, 2020 9:45 am

am struggling after having purchased 9 masks in the past 30 days now.

Take what seems like the mask with the most potential, and watch three or videos of fitting and adjusting instructions on youtube. Start a new thread if you have questions for users here.

Welcome!

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 26, 2020 12:42 pm

Robb wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 26, 2020 9:45 am

am struggling after having purchased 9 masks in the past 30 days now.

Take what seems like the mask with the most potential, and watch three or videos of fitting and adjusting instructions on youtube. Start a new thread if you have questions for users here.

Welcome!

Just found one that I may be able to tolerate; thanks.

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 25, 2020 8:03 am

whatathymeitwas wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 24, 2020 6:04 pm

this morning after waking up with a mouth that felt like a sponge left in the sun

You have a bigger problem than what is being addressed. It's a problem that leads to poor oral health and could be the reason that required a tooth being pulled. That problem is dry mouth. This needs to be resolved and there are several solutions. I hope you will address this in this thread. First, how often do you get dry mouth, and which mask are you using?

It's off and on, when I wake up some mornings. It never happens when I'm awake, and doesn't happen when I'm not using my mask.


I have a full face mask, a Quattro Mirage, which was suggested to me because I've breathed through my mouth a lot in my life due to a deviated septum. I've had a septoplasty to correct my septum about a year ago and hoped that would help, but it didn't much, though it and cpap has apparently helped with my snoring.

I just wake up some mornings with my mouth wide open and the air blowing full speed directly into it, and my mouth super dry. I wouldn't say it happens super often lately, but it's still often enough to be irritating. I've asked my ENT about it and he said it's an unavoidable symptom combining mouth breathing and cpap use so I'm not sure.

Thanks for all the advice here, I really very much appreciate it!

My dentist messaged me back the other day after my extraction and suggested not to use it for the first night or two. I wasn't able to on the third night either because my mask kept putting pressure on my jaw where it was swollen, and if I moved it enough to not hurt, it steadily leaked.

I'm hoping tonight is my lucky night. I really hate trying to sleep without my mask, I find hypopneas make it really difficult to fall asleep apparently, which I didn't really realize because it's been quite awhile since I didn't use it.

whatathymeitwas wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 28, 2020 4:42 am

I just wake up some mornings with my mouth wide open and the air blowing full speed directly into it, and my mouth super dry. I wouldn't say it happens super often lately, but it's still often enough to be irritating. I've asked my ENT about it and he said it's an unavoidable symptom combining mouth breathing and cpap use

For some purposes, doctors can be totally useless. That's why this forum exists.

For mouthbreathing, there are a number of things that can be tried.

1. Practice holding the tongue on the roof of the mouth. Do this as you are falling asleep at night. Do it any time you wake up during the night. This can also be practiced during the day. I'm doing it as this is being typed. You might eventually get to the point that keeping the mouth closed is subconscious.

2. Wear a firm, foam cervical collar to help prevent jaw-drop.

3. Tape the lips shut with a sensitive-skin paper tape or Somnifix.

In the meantime, a dry mouth gel can be applied just before putting the mask on for the night.

Some may chime in with other things that have worked for them.