Crackling sound when mouth is open - Open to All Other Health Topics Message Board

lepetitfleur · 08-09-2004, 08:10 AM

Hi All,
I've searched on crackling but I'm mostly finding threads that talk about crackling in the inner ear area.

Over the last year, I've been hearing my husband make a crackling sound through his mouth. He went to see the doctor and the doctor could hear it while he was sitting up. I asked him to close his mouth and breath through his nose and I didn't hear the sound but when he holds his nose and breaths through his mouth, you can hear it. It sounds like someone crinkling up cellophane.

He's seeing the ENT doc tomorrow for a scope to look at sinuses, etc. but I'm concerned that it might be something else since I don't hear the sound through his nose - only through the mouth.

Does anyone else experience this? I'm tempted to have the doctor do a chest xray. Would this be worthwhile or am I jumping to the wrong conclusion?

I'm getting very anxious about this. He's recently had two total hip replacements and he's on a doctor's schedule tapering off Oxycontin (down to one 80mg tablet in the a.m. and one 80mg in the evening). He deserves to finally be completely healthy after years of severe pain.

Any feedback would be much appreciated.

twanger · 08-09-2004, 08:23 AM

Sounds like TMJ. Did he check with his dentist?

lepetitfleur · 08-09-2004, 09:14 AM

He's going to the dentist today to get a permanent crown so I'll ask him to check on that but we only hear this crackling sound when he's breathing in. He doesn't hear the sound coming from the ears nor is there any popping sound. This is what concerns me.

Kissa · 08-09-2004, 02:59 PM

It could be his TMJ (everyone has a TMJ, TMJD (dysfunction) is the medical problem) but that would be when he opens and closes his mouth not paricularly when he just breathes through his mouth.
I get popping sounds too outside of the TMJD when breathing, I always thought it was just my ears since I have some ear problems too.
Let us know what the doc says!

feelbad · 08-10-2004, 04:53 AM

This sounds like more of a lung/airway issue.I think the scope idea is a very good one you will be able to see if there is something that is obstructing the airway.what you are hearing is called crackles.does the doc also hear this sound when he listens to his breath sounds with a stethopcope,or is this strictly an upper airway thing?.Please let us know what the results of the scoping reveal.also, I think the chest x-ray is a great idea.It might not show anything specific but I think you ARE on the right track in doing it.Good luck.Marcia