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What Causes Pain In Gums When Using CPAP Machine And Humidifier?

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Posted on Fri, 24 Oct 2014
Question: When I use my Cpap machine with the humidifier. I get pain in my upper back gums of mouth from the air pressure when I breathe in and exhale out the pain stays with me thru the morning so I stopped using my sleep apnea machine at night that makes me feel tired all day what can I do about this my dentist says my mouth is healthy it don't make sense what should I do!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (29 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
It may be due to wrong size of mask

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using healthcaremagic.

I read your query and understand the problem encountered by you.
To rectify this you can do following things
1. Changing attitude about C pap- as you know the health benefits of C pap is much better than side effects keeping a positive attitude is very essential.

2. Changing the mask size and shape- It is common observation that everyone has different face sizes and different type of mask. It will be appropriate to find the most suitable size for you.

3. Using the ramp feature on your machine- This allows the person to start with low air pressure, followed by an automatic, gradual increase in the air pressure to prescribed setting as you go for deep sleep. This can be adjusted well by your treating doctor.

If you do not find any help from this, you can talk to your doctor to change another size of device which has capacity to adjust air pressure automatically. For example, BiPAP have different pressure contours and provide high pressure when you inhale and very less pressure while exhaling.

Hope I am able to answer your concerns.

If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.
Thanks and regards
Dr Ashok Kumar

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (40 hours later)
The size of the mask has nothing to do with it been using same size mask for years now.Could my sinuses cause gum and teeth pain in morning after using Cpap machine? I have a deviated septum and some sinus problems that the ENT doctor said need to be addressed but my cervical neck and upper back problems are more important at this time it effects my sleep I get constant pain in back of head and upper back pain feels like my head is in a vice all the time hurts so bad at times just when rub my head and I have tingling and numbness and pain in left leg from the knee down only on one side that it hurts so bad it also effects my sleep.I have a lot on my plate at this time that must be taken care of and just want to know why I am now getting pain in my upper jaw and teeth when I use Cpap machine from the forced air from it I don’t need more problems on top of the ones I already have when forced air from Cpap hits that area of my mouth it causes immediate pain and gradually gets worse thru the night she use machine!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (17 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
It is possible

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for reverting back to me.

I just tried to make out the possible cause of the problem and mask size is one of the top most reason people discontinue Cpap after few months or years. Other than that with change of mask we are not going to loss anything but it is possible that you can get a better fitting mask that suits your need and reduces the pain. In case there is worsening you can decide to use the previous mask.

It is possible that deviated nasal septum is contributing to current problem, but one thing is clear that the cause of jaw pain is Cpap machine. The other factors may or may not contribute to the problem. Before we can correct contributing factors (Deviated Nasal septum), in case they are, we need to look at conservative means of correcting it, like using ramp feature or Bipap machine.

I hope this clarifies the situation.
"If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health".
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2000

Answered : 3355 Questions

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What Causes Pain In Gums When Using CPAP Machine And Humidifier?

Brief Answer: It may be due to wrong size of mask Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for using healthcaremagic. I read your query and understand the problem encountered by you. To rectify this you can do following things 1. Changing attitude about C pap- as you know the health benefits of C pap is much better than side effects keeping a positive attitude is very essential. 2. Changing the mask size and shape- It is common observation that everyone has different face sizes and different type of mask. It will be appropriate to find the most suitable size for you. 3. Using the ramp feature on your machine- This allows the person to start with low air pressure, followed by an automatic, gradual increase in the air pressure to prescribed setting as you go for deep sleep. This can be adjusted well by your treating doctor. If you do not find any help from this, you can talk to your doctor to change another size of device which has capacity to adjust air pressure automatically. For example, BiPAP have different pressure contours and provide high pressure when you inhale and very less pressure while exhaling. Hope I am able to answer your concerns. If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you. If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback. Thanks and regards Dr Ashok Kumar