How many of you have dealt with scalloped tongue as part of sleep apnea/sleep disorder?

Since before my teenage years, I have always had issues with my tongue. I always got bad canker sores on my actual tongue, jaws, lips, on the gums and even on the back of the throat itself a few times. Before I had my sleep study and had a quick interview with the sleep doctor, he told me that scalloped tongue "is a classic sign" of sleep apnea. I have also noticed that there are times when it doesn't happen and my tongue looks fine. Other days, I sleep horribly and it feels like my tongue is all swollen and I have these considerable teeth marks all the way around. On the mornings when I wake up with them, I retain them for the entire day that I'm awake.

I have considered getting a mouth guard to give it a try. I'm also getting curious if it is my poor sleep as a result of the tongue falling back and/or pressing downwards to open my airway or if I just have always had a bad habit or something. The possibility has been entertained that my tongue just might be "big" in general.

If you did have it, did it go away when you got on CPAP/APAP?

Yes My sleep care has involved a collection of suggestions and observations by not just my sleep doctor , also my
dentist - a mouth guard custom made that aligns my jaw and stops me crushing my teeth neurologist - a cervical collar to better support my neck while I sleep and reduce pinched nerves ear nose and throat - annual checkups that addressed my balance and dizziness especially experienced laying down pulmonologist - to learn about my lung conditions and the need for an inhaler primary care - to point me in the right direction for referrals when I present symptoms None of them see the whole picture - but as I collected diagnoses and did as I was guided to do - combined with my daily use of CPAP and with the check-ins with my sleep doctor my sleep has improved - a lot. And, to reiterate - my dental appliance has become a key to my improved sleep.

A mouth guard sounds like a good place to start. Do you still have issues with the sores in and around your mouth?

Yes, and they form right where the "ridges" are on the tongue that are caused by the marks from in between the teeth. Both sides of the tongue, as well as the top edges all the way around for both.