Tounge pushing my teeth forward

[addco]

I recently switched from a full face mask to a Swift FX nasal pillow mask. I'm a side-sleeper, and had trouble with mask leaks waking me up and general comfort issues. I've always been a mouth breather, but with the use of a chin strap, I've been able to teach myself to sleep with my mouth closed, and can now use the Swift mask without losing pressure through my mouth. I find it MUCH more comfortable, I get a better night's sleep, and my AHI with the Swift is below 1 on most nights as opposed to 3-4 with the FF mask. All good so far....

But, I'm finding that with the Swift mask, I have a tendency to push my tounge forward against my teeth (particularly my lower front teeth) while I'm asleep (I guess my tounge is working to hold back the pressure), and I wake up with my lower front teeth feeling like they are pushed out of place. It takes a couple of hours for them to feel right again after I wake up. I'm concerned this is going to cause long-term problems with my dental / orthodontal health.

Sleeping with the chin strap on seems to help a bit, but transfers the problem from my lower teeth to the upper ones. Plus, not all that comfortable to begin with.....

Anyone have similar experiences with a Nasal mask ? Any suggestions on how to remedy ? I do not want to go back to the FF mask.

[jaybeem]

I would suggest giving it a week or two. When I first used the Swift FX, my front teeth were sore and loose for a couple of weeks...but it went away. I switched masks over a month ago, but this time the sore, loose front teeth haven't gone away.

From a prior post of mine:

Just back from my dentist. My front upper and lower teeth are sore and a little loose and have been for weeks. I have new fracture lines on the backs of my top canine teeth. Because it is only my front teeth and there is no evidence of grinding on my back teeth, he thinks I am clenching or thrusting vs. grinding. Maybe I am trying to keep my mask in place or worried about opening my mouth? He said I could use a sports guard, but it would be bulky. I had a full mouth guard years ago and woke up every morning having flung it to the far corner of the room. He recommended a light-weight guard for my top 6-8 teeth for about $350. I am going to get it despite not having dental insurance.

[Pugsy]

I have been using a nasal pillow mask (including the Swift FX for 2 years I guess) of some sort for well over 4 years and I have never had issues you are describing but then my tongue normally rests in the roof of my mouth and away from my teeth.
Last March I changed to the Tap Pap nasal pillow mask and it uses an upper mouth guard to provide the anchor for the nasal pillows.
It did give me sensations that my bite was "off" initially in the AM but after a couple of hours this feeling went away. I notice nothing now...no teeth soreness..no feeling like my bite is off or anything like that.

Just a month or so ago I talked with my dentist about this new mask and told him what happened and he said it was really pretty typical experience. He told me that it wouldn't have been unusual for it to take 3 or 4 hours of my bite to get back to feeling normal.
The teeth didn't move but it felt like they did because of the mouth guard being in the mouth which causes the jaws to stay more in one position and a position not quite what we are used to, The body tends to remember positions hence the little abnormal bite feeling for a while in the AM.

Now I have no idea if this same rationale applies to your issues with your lower teeth. I don't know the state of your dental health.
Under normal healthy dental conditions it would take a lot more than 6 or 7 hours of pushing with the tongue to start moving the teeth.
What you are describing with the lower teeth is definitely NOT common with nasal pillow mask users...I would suggest that you see your dentist about your concerns.

[flyingwithoutwings]

I get that feeling with my upper teeth. For a few hours after I get up I feel like my teeth are shifting. This has been happening since I started cpap therapy but I thought "it can't be" but I guess it is.