Hey guys
I've had this dental appliance (it's a herbst) for a while and I used to have trouble getting used to it. So I got fed up and stopped using it and then started having dreams very often, almost every night constantly for months. Now I'm using it again because my sister told me she uses a mouthguard to stop her grinding and she noticed it she started having less dreams so I decided to try again. Well good news! I'm finally able to fall asleep with my dental appliance.... or I think I am. I have no problem just resting there with it in until I fall asleep. But then now the problem I have is I wake up and I find it on my nightstand the next morning! So now my problem is I have trouble keeping it in my mouth but I also have trouble remembering that I took it out at all! I would go to bed and not remember taking the dental appliance at all even though I apparently did. But I have no idea when I took it out, if I took it out before falling asleep or during the night or just when I was waking up. I've been trying the appliance again for about a week now and this is still an issue every morning. I've read about how you just have to get used to it and now I'm making more efforts to get used to it so I have no problem but maybe I still do have a problem with it and just don't realize it? Why am I taking it out every night? Why don't I remember doing that? When during the night or morning am I doing it? More importantly, how do I stop doing that at all? I've heard of one solution: duct tape my mouth but I'm sure that'll hurt like heck if I put it on then take it off the next morning!
Thanks.
I've had my sleep apnea device for at least a year in that year I've had one side of it break a loose completely because my dentist didn't know that it was supposed to be adjusted with my jaw forward. My dentist finally figured out how to adjust it where the jar feels like it's forward. That was the best week sleep I've had in a long time no phlegm no waking up every hour it was a really great week but now it won't stay adjusted so I was wondering if I should ask her to get me a new mouthpiece or just keep going back to get it adjusted like it supposed to be?
I have been grinding and clenching my teeth all my life and was diagnosed with TMJ. I have always been thin. After 45 years of this, I now have advanced osteoarthritis in my jaw and it is dislocated. Open lock jaw. I can only open it so far. I have used mouth guards for grinding for years but they never stopped the grinding. Just helped protect my teeth. I have had hyaluronic acid injected into my jaw joint and provided some relief. I noticed I was waking up choking when I slept on my back. I had to go to three doctors in order to get a sleep study prescription because they looked at me (thin) and said you don't have sleep apnea. I do. Mild/moderate. 14.7 and 28 during REM. I have been using a CPAP which has improved my life greatly. My jaw pain has decreased and the facial muscles are more relaxed. Would I be a candidate for an oral appliance with my jaw issues? I can't go backpacking with a CPAP.
I am a dentist specializing in dental sleep medicine. Do you mean is it safe to use fluoride free toothpaste on your oral appliance? Well, it depends on the manufacturer. You should have homecare instructions outlined in your owner's manual. You must follow that. If in doubt, call the manufacturer. A.B. Luisi,D.M.D, The Naples Center For Dental Sleep Medicine