Toothache

[rambojambo]

Hi,

I did my Padi open water course last weekend and then at some point this week I realised one of my back upper teeth feels loose. I am off to see the dentist tomorrow about it but I have done some googling and discovered it is quite a common problem with diving, due to the pressure difference and biting the regulator too tightly. I was biting pretty hard and always came out the water with jaw ache, as the dives went on I was trying to make an effort to not bite on it as hard.

I have read about different mouthpieces and custom ones, but seeing as I dont own any of my own kit yet and I am supposed to be going to Egypt to dice in less than a month is there anything I can do in that time?

thanks

 

[Youngandfree]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CD6IGKU?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_title

I've got one of these. It's soft and doesn't require a bunch of force to stay in my mouth. If it works for you, I'd pack one with you for your trip, and have it installed on the reg that you rent.

 

[Dogbowl]

My solution is the Aqualung Comfo bite. For me, it made a big difference for my comfort. I was unable to keep the reg in my mouth with the mouthpiece that came with the reg. Changing it out to the comfo bite was night and day for me. I would agree with @Youngandfree, bring your own mouthpiece and ask the dive shop to install it on your rental reg for you.

Aqua Lung Comfo-Bite Mouthpiece, Black

 

[TMHeimer]

I've used a molded mouthpiece for years. Just fits better and is very secure in rough currents. I've never heard of biting a MP too hard causing loosening of teeth. I mean, don't you have to like, bite a rock to do that? I certainly have no dental expertise--just surprised to hear that it's fairly common.

 

[rambojambo]

thats cool, I didn't know I could take my own mouthpiece and get it fitted on the rental gear

In the article I read the loosening of teeth was just one possibility, but i think that was more to do with air pockets expanding due to pressure changes

Thanks for your replies

 

[Youngandfree]

It just attaches with a ziptie. You might contact your dive operator before hand, but can't see it being a problem.

 

[Damselfish]

I've never heard of loosening of teeth due to chomping down on a reg, certainly don't think it's a common thing. I suppose it's possible but maybe this is just bringing attention to something that was already going on. By all means find a comfortable mouthpiece and take it with you, but part of this could just be that you're new at this and maybe a little nervous or something, and just have to keep working on relaxing.

The pressure thing has to do with air pockets in teeth, which could cause pain upon ascent or other problems, but I didn't think loosening a tooth was one. Air pockets could be left after dental work such as a filling or root canal, but shouldn't be. Lookup "tooth squeeze."

 

[tursiops]

My last upper-back toothache turned out to be a sinus infection.

I have done some googling and discovered it is quite a common problem with diving, due to the pressure difference and biting the regulator too tightly.

Not sure where you were googling (the great thing about Google is you can get a lot of really bad information really fast) but this is not a "common" problem, but rather quite rare.