Hello Guest, Welcome to Apnea Board !
As a guest, you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use.
To post a message, you must create a free account using a valid email address.

or Create an Account


New Posts   Today's Posts

Jaw / Teeth Discomfort
#1
Jaw / Teeth Discomfort
I've taken to 'papping fairly well, but after a few days I started to notice some jaw discomfort. At first I had the impression that I was projecting my lower jaw forward and down while asleep. The result was a sore jaw (TMJ pain). The last couple of nights I noticed that my front teeth, top and bottom, were sore and my bite seemed to have changed. I think that means I am clenching my teeth. I might be doing both. It has even started to bother me in the daytime. My assumption is that this is a reaction to the air flow or pressure from the CPAP.

I am interested to hear if this has happened to anyone else, if it went away, or if there is some way to lessen this effect. I think I will talk to my dentist about a bite guard. I used one 20 years ago when I ground my teeth my sleep. If I am holding my jaw open, would a chin strap help? Or would it make it worse? I am not holding my mouth open and my tongue is firmly stuck to the roof of my mouth where it spends most of its life.

Chuck
Post Reply Post Reply
#2
RE: Jaw / Teeth Discomfort
Hey Chill, welcome to the forum.

I also experienced something similar while being a new CPAPer. I think subconsciously I was clenching during the night and woke up with sore jaws/teeth. I suffered through a week or so of nights wearing a cheapo Walmart night guard and then just decided to stop. I have not had the problem since, although I cannot be sure that using the night guard was actually what fixed it, or did it just stop on it's own? I'll never know. Just glad it doesn't happen anymore!

Good luck resolving your issue. Keep us posted!
APNEABOARD - A great place to be if you're a hosehead!!  Rolleyes  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EVERY ACCOMPLISHMENT BEGINS WITH THE DECISION TO TRY!
Post Reply Post Reply
#3
RE: Jaw / Teeth Discomfort
Hi Chuck. I got my CPAP machine in December but didn't start using it regularly until February due to one problem or another. I started out at 7.0 cm and am now at 9.0 cm.

I did definitely notice some pain in my teeth and jaw at first. I was concerned that it might progress to TMJ, because I've had that problem before, but it didn't. I don't know if my initially erratic use helped me to adjust.

I would suggest making sure that your mask is no tighter than it absolutely has to be to seal. I keep mine very loose. You very likely are already doing this, but I just wanted to mention the possibility.

I read your other posts and am guessing that you may take antidepressant or other meds that can cause jaw clenching and tooth grinding. I do, and I'll sometimes notice that I am clenching my jaw when I'm wearing the CPAP mask but haven't fallen asleep yet.

If you decide to look at your data in SleepyHead, it's possible to see if you are exhaling through your mouth. My impression is that doing that may make my jaw a little painful the next morning. I can see in my data that sometimes I do it for 20-30 minutes in the middle of the night and am considering a chin strap.

I suppose my opinion is that if a person is taking meds that make them prone to jaw clenching or teeth grinding then the CPAP mask is an added irritating factor.

Even though my jaw doesn't feel like I've got inflammation going on, I definitely wake up with my jaw stiff and popping and it takes a few hours for it so get loosened up.

I imagine you know that over-the-counter anti-inflammatory meds can help.

I am hoping that my jaw eventually adjusts to the mask. I am also thinking that I am going to try nasal pillow next to see if that puts less pressure on my jaw.
Post Reply Post Reply
#4
RE: Jaw / Teeth Discomfort
CPAP is not normal, no really. It is an alien sitting on your face blowing air up your nose. Add to that, at least for me, scared that it would somehow stop working in the night and again I would stop breathings and wake in a panic.

Some say trust the force, we say trust the machine. They work. It may take time to adjust them correctly, but they work. You will get used to it.
As above, make sure your are not over tightening the straps. Test them out before you try and sleep when you can spend some time adjusting the mask and laying down to test it out.
Post Reply Post Reply
#5
RE: Jaw / Teeth Discomfort
I have been on cpap for over 2 years. I have the same problem of pushing my jaw forward and down during treatment. I don't know why. My jaw does not hurt but lately my jaw clicks when I yawn.

Brad
Post Reply Post Reply
#6
RE: Jaw / Teeth Discomfort
Thank you for your welcome, support, and ideas. i will look for a cheap night guard to see if that offers any relief. I think my mask is already pretty loose, if I had it much loser I don't think it would seal at a all.

I am taking antidepressants and other meds but I did not have any jaw soreness until I started CPAP/APAP. I did load my data into SleepyHead, but I am still feeling my away around what all that data means. How can I see if I am exhaling through my mouth? It does seem to be noticeably worse in the middle of the night.

Thanks to everyone!
Chuck

Post Reply Post Reply
#7
RE: Jaw / Teeth Discomfort
Quote:How can I see if I am exhaling through my mouth?

This usually shows up as a flat-topped section on the leak graph. It can also make a loud hissing noise which your bed partner (if you have one) is sure to notice.
Post Reply Post Reply
#8
RE: Jaw / Teeth Discomfort
I have remarkable little in the way of leakage, so it was not that.

This problem has slowly resolved. I still have a bit of jaw tenderness. I suspect it was a reaction to the mask, straps, or air pressure that I have now adjusted to.

Chuck
Post Reply Post Reply
#9
RE: Jaw / Teeth Discomfort
This is my first post.

I started using CPAP three weeks ago, and my RT has been having me try out a bunch of different masks, to find the one that is right for me. I found that with the "Wisp" my upper front teeth were so sore the entire next day, that I couldn't even take a bite of a sandwich. I didn't have the mask on tight or anything like that, I have no idea what happened.
I gave that one back, and now I'm using the "Dreamwear". The first few days that I used it my upper front teeth felt a little sensitive, but it seems to be diminishing as the days go by.
Post Reply Post Reply
#10
RE: Jaw / Teeth Discomfort
That sounds like the effect of clenching your teeth, possibly with then trying to shove your lower jaw forward.
Post Reply Post Reply


Possibly Related Threads...
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  Moving From RM S9 to Airsense10 -- Great Discomfort hypnos 3 409 11-10-2023, 08:51 AM
Last Post: DaveL
  Front Teeth is hurting in morning. kdpatel 3 681 03-05-2023, 11:00 AM
Last Post: TexasDon
  Cpap - Teeth Grinding dapal 3 772 10-03-2022, 11:15 AM
Last Post: KeepSmiling
  Waking up, discomfort komoli 0 491 04-01-2022, 02:31 PM
Last Post: komoli
  [Pressure] Mask discomfort DaveMur 6 647 01-05-2022, 06:25 AM
Last Post: Ratchick
  Teeth/gums feel weird in the AM HockeyGoon 7 1,134 09-24-2021, 11:26 AM
Last Post: Kuutar
  Teeth Grinding and Sleep Apnea hookedonstitch 19 1,954 09-04-2021, 03:30 PM
Last Post: RNeil


New Posts   Today's Posts


About Apnea Board

Apnea Board is an educational web site designed to empower Sleep Apnea patients.