Sleep disorders such as insomnia and snoring are associated with a sleep problem called sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can cause oral health issues and vice versa. In this article, we explored the correlation between sleep apnea and your oral health.
What is sleep apnea?
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, sleep apnea is a common sleep issue affecting roughly 25 million Americans. Recurrent breathing interruptions indicate sleep apnea during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea, which is the most common type, occurs when the soft tissues of the airway collapse, usually due to a large tongue, obesity, and other risk factors. Apnea cuts off the oxygen supply to the lungs.
Due to the disruptive effects of sleep apnea on the sleep cycle, it causes daytime weakness, fatigue, and poor mental performance and has lasting adverse effects on health. Untreated sleep apnea can be life-threatening because it leads to an oxygen drop, high blood pressure, and heart-related issues.
The connection to oral health
Good, quality sleep is vital for general wellbeing, combating bad breath, mouth ulcers, and periodontal disease. Oral issues connected with sleep apnea include TMJ disorder, bruxism and mouth breathing.
TMJ
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders and sleep apnea are related. The TMJ links the upper jaw to the lower jaw. Everyone has two TMJs, one on either side of the face. TMJ disorder could cause jaw pain, locked jaw, pain in the head, neck, and shoulders, and issues with chewing.
A 2013 study reported in the Journal of Dental Research discovered that people who are at a higher risk of sleep apnea were also three times more susceptible to suffering from TMJ disorder. The study also found that patients who showed signs of sleep apnea had about a 73 percent higher risk of having TMJ issues, irrespective of their race, age, weight or smoking habits.
Bruxism
Bruxism is the term for teeth grinding or jaw clenching. Although this habit can occur at any time, people usually engage in the practice subconsciously while sleeping. Bruxism has adverse effects on sleep and may cause you to wake up feeling tired, with headaches and jaw pain. Research published by the Journal of Oral and Facial Pain and Headache stated that bruxism affects up to 31 percent of adults and approximately a quarter of them may suffer from sleep apnea.
Bruxism is categorized under sleep-related problems because it results in involuntary and uncontrolled jaw movement while sleeping. Patients may not be aware of the disorder, but the dentist will detect the signs during a dental checkup.
Mouth breathing
Sleep apnea may force the person to breathe through their mouth. This causes dry mouth, which contributes to tooth decay, plaque, mouth sores, and gum disease. Based on research published in the Journal of the Indian Society of Periodontology, periodontal disease affects 62.3 percent of sleep apnea patients.
Learn more today
Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea can affect general wellbeing negatively. If you are worried that you have sleep apnea, book a consultation with the general dentist to ascertain the cause of your sleeping issues. The dental expert will discuss various treatment options available to help you sleep better.
Request an appointment here: https://brimhalldentalgroup.com or call Brimhall Dental Group at (661) 249-1122 for an appointment in our Bakersfield office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.
Recent Posts
Straightening your teeth and improving your smile can be accomplished with orthodontic treatments. Three main types of treatments are available: traditional braces, clear aligners, and lingual braces. Each type of treatment has its own benefits and drawbacks, and it's important to understand these to make the best decision for your orthodontic needs. In this blog…
When you have dentures, you must remember this, proper denture care starts with treating your dentures just like natural teeth. You should keep your dentures clean and shiny to help maintain your new smile. Keeping your dentures and mouth clean will help to extend the life of your new smile! Here are four tips on…
One of the most common questions that dentists receive about denture care from new denture wearers is if they can keep them in all the time. The short answer is no. Understandably, you may not feel quite like yourself when you take them out, but proper denture care involves removing them once a day for…
Denture care is essential for dental health. How often do you think about your dentures? There's a good chance it's not as often as you should. Your dentures are part of your mouth and one of the most important parts because they can impact how your smile looks and feels.Denture care is vital for dental…