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CPAP mask causing lower front teeth to shift inward

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CompassionateBabyBlueSpoonbill6759 +0 points · about 6 years ago Original Poster

I am 68 years old and have been wearing a CPAP for 7 years. I have tried several masks and needed to use a full face due to mouth breathing. About 10 months ago I changed to the Amara View which is still a full face. After about 6 months, I thought I had receding gums on the lower front teeth. This continued to become more uncomfortable to the point that I felt I could no longer wear the full face. I tried the nasal pillows and had to use the chin up strip, or tape to keep my mouth shut while wearing the mask. The tooth pain had reduced significantly. I went to the dentist this week and was told that the full face mask had been pushing on my teeth, causing them to "erupt, shifting inward" The dentist said that if it stabilizes now that I have changed masks, he recommends to do nothing. But if the shifting continues, I should see an orthodontist for possible braces. I have never worn braces. I did not have the mask too tight. I am a side sleeper, never on my stomach or face. I frequently have attended the AWAKE meetings in my area and have had the mask and machine checked. Has anyone else experienced this issue?

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Sierra +0 points · about 6 years ago Sleep Patron

I am also 68 years old, but have only been wearing a CPAP for 6 months. I tend to open my when the pressure from the CPAP gets up, and that causes a loss of air and a high leakage rate when using a nasal mask. I have tried a Mirage Quattro, and AirFit F20 full face mask, but could not tolerate the mask on my face, and the unreliable seal and leakage. So, the short story is that I have not used a full face for any significant time. I have also found that a ResMed AirFit P10 nasal pillow mask best suits me. I also address the air leakage from my mouth with a Breathewear Halo chin strap and paper medical tape on my mouth. I was initially adverse to doing it, but it seems to be the best solution overall, and I plan to continue with the nasal pillows, chin strap, and paper tape on the mouth.

I find it surprising that you have incurred dental damage due to the full face mask. It would suggest you may have been using a pretty significant force to seal the mask. But, your dentist could be right. Obviously something to keep monitoring.

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sleeptech +0 points · about 6 years ago Sleep Enthusiast

The DreamWear full face is similar to the Amara View but it sits a little differently under the nose and presses on the upper jaw less. It may be worth a look. It does have magnetic clips though, so if you have a pace maker, implanted defibrillator, cochlear implant or any other implanted electrical device you can't use it because the magnetic clips can stuff the device up.

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wiredgeorge +0 points · about 6 years ago Sleep Enthusiast

If you cinch up the Amara View lower set up straps tightly, it will likely cause the mask to pull up to your lower lip and I imagine it would be possible to affect the lower teeth. I wear a boil n bite mouth guard and haven't had the problem as my teeth and lower gums are protected from this type issue. I do use hydrogen peroxide as a debristing agent (hope that is the right term) to keep from getting any sore gums from the mouth guard.

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tapeit +0 points · over 1 year ago

I don't know if this is still monitored however I've had the same problem with moving of teeth with a full face mask. I switched to product called bleep. No head gear just these two pieces of tape that go over the nose opening and then you snap the hose in. My problem is constant issues with air coming out of my mouth. I've tried combinations of tapes my latest has been kinesiology tape along with the 3M medipore to sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. I found the chin strap give me problems with jaw and was uncomfortable. Tried 3 of those I even have a camera now over my bed that will show me how my cheeks are puffing up and now it correlates to Oscar and the leaks on the report. They can be very large at times Can it be that the pressure isn't enough from the machine and therefore my throat closes and the air comes out my mouth. From the way my cheeks are puffing up it looks pretty strong the air coming out. It's very deceptive because in the morning the tape is still on but if I blow hard I could feel it coming out the corners. Any suggestions

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Sierra +0 points · over 1 year ago Sleep Patron

I use a ResMed AirFit P10 mask and I don't see how it could move teeth. To keep my mouth shut I use a horizontal strip of 1" 3M Micropore tape, and then cover that with a 10 cm wide x 6 cm high patch of Molnlycke Mefix fabric tape. The Micropore resists the moisture and the Mefix keeps it all in place.

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tapeit +0 points · over 1 year ago

The tooth movement was when I was using full face masks. I also seem to move a lot when I sleep so I would constantly have leaks. I have a P10 but I figured I would try the bleep and at least put out of the way where the leak is coming from and it's definitely from my mouth. Tonight I think I'm going to reverse the tape I'm using. I use micropor two layers of it for months and discovered that I was blowing it open on the edges. I switched to a tape that athletes use when they're injured it's sort of rubbery. I use that and then on top of it the micro poor then I do try chin strap all these things sometimes work sometimes don't. Having a camera over my head really shows me what the heck is going on. I just don't know why at this point. You think it's possible that the pressure isn't high enough so that the throat is closing before the CPAP machine can sense it and therefore it blows out my mouth

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Sierra +0 points · over 1 year ago Sleep Patron

I find the Micropore to be more moisture resistant than the Mefix. However the Mefix is more flexible, so using the Micropore for the first layer, and covering it with the large patch of Mefix seems to give me the best of both tapes. . One the pressure issue, can you post a screenshot of your daily tab from OSCAR? Just put it full screen, press F12 and save it. Then with file explorer let click on the file and drag it into a full width reply window here. Use the orange Write a reply button at the bottom left of the screen.

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