CPAP and Periodontal disease

[ezdrifler]

Hi all,

I was diagnosed with apnea with ahi of 28

I have been using my cpap for about 1.5 months and sleepyhead reads my ahi dropped between 4-6 ahi

Unfortunately I also have periodontal gum disease and the cpap creates an ideal dry scenario for my disease to flourish.

I was talking to my dentist today and ge recommended I tri the mouthpiece that pulls your jaw forward and get rid of the cpap.

He did made it clear Apnea has higher priority than gums, my questions are:

1) Has the mothpiece proven succesful in treating Apnea?

2) is there a way I can use my cpap machine with a mouthpiece just to read the results

[Mike1953]

No to both

[trish6hundred]

Hi ezdrifler,
I notice that, in your profile, you say none on the humidifier, you should reconsider on that. You will need some humidity, especially with a full-face mask, (FFM.)
The dental appliance won't be a substitute for CPAP therapy.
Good luck to you and hang in there for more ideas.

[Dafod]

Using a mouthpiece/splint for Apnea can work with mild/moderate apnea BUT it's a crap shoot on whether it does work and how effective. Also as someone continues to use a splint it's difficult to see the efficacy of treatment.

I did get a mouthpiece too and whilst my AHI was only 17 (untreated) the mouthpiece was completely useless. I had wanted it for travel and the supposed flexibility it would offer.

After a week I had to give up as it didn't work and I felt horrible. Thing is, even if it works (50/50) the mouthpiece was highly uncomfortable (really really bad) and a CPAP is far easier (in my opinion) to tolerate.

The other thing is insurance normally doesn't cover the mouthpiece so you could be out $800-$1500 and find out it doesn't work. That said, YMMV.

[otrpu]

Have no personal experience with the mouthpiece that's supposed to relieve apnea and snoring. I wear a custom upper mouth piece to keep my few remaining lower jaw teeth from irritating my upper gums.
Cheers,
otrpu

[green wings]

ez, does your CPAP machine have a water reservoir and humidifier? I just started using CPAP (with humidifier) about a month ago, and I feel like my mouth is less dry in the mornings than without CPAP.

I have autoimmune arthritis and associated problems with dry eyes and dry mouth.

[ezdrifler]

Hi ezdrifler,
I notice that, in your profile, you say none on the humidifier, you should reconsider on that. You will need some humidity, especially with a full-face mask, (FFM.)
The dental appliance won't be a substitute for CPAP therapy.
Good luck to you and hang in there for more ideas.

My apologies, I just updated my profile, My device has a built in humidifier.

We live by the coast, and the humidity here is always high.

The reservoir in my humidifier is usually full in the morning even at 5, is not enough to counter the side effects on my gums.

[OpalRose]

ezdrifler,
You shouldn't be experiencing dry mouth to the degree that you state that causes gum disease unless you are mouth breathing.
Try a chin strap with your mask.
There are other things to try too. Before bed, rinse with a Mouth Rinse for dry mouth, like Biotene or Act Total Care for Dry Mouth.

I haven't heard about much success with the dental appliances, plus how would you know you are treating your apnea.

[eseedhouse]

I had dry mouth with a full face mask no matter how high I put the humidity. Adding in a chin strap pretty well fixed the problem and now I don't get dry mouth even though I no longer use the humidifier.

If I wake up in the middle of the night as I usually do I also suck on one of the milder variants of "Firsherman's Friend" lozenges (non sugar) until I lie back down after visiting the loo.

Also here in Canada I found some lozenges that stick to the roof of your mouth and melt slowly during the night, one lasts pretty much all night and makes you salivate more, and does seem helpful. Threw out the box so I don't know the brand name and it may be different where you live anyway.

But the chin strap made the main difference, so far as I am concerned.

[ezdrifler]

ezdrifler,
You shouldn't be experiencing dry mouth to the degree that you state that causes gum disease unless you are mouth breathing.

My gum disease is existing, is irreversable, i can only control it with constant checkups, is periodontis, I am also a mouth breather, my nose closes up often, nothing clears it, thats why i need a full face mask.

Try a chin strap with your mask.

cant, mouth breather

There are other things to try too. Before bed, rinse with a Mouth Rinse for dry mouth, like Biotene or Act Total Care for Dry Mouth.

will look into that, sounds like a good idea.

I haven't heard about much success with the dental appliances, plus how would you know you are treating your apnea.

Exactly my question, dentist said I could gauge it by my level of snoring, I was like mmmm