The Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Your Oral Health
Deep, restful sleep is critical for your overall health and sense of well-being. Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that can put your health at risk and affect your quality of life. But did you know that it can also impact your oral health? Dr. Sri and her team at Ateeth Dental Care are pleased to offer proven sleep apnea solutions to safeguard your smile.
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a devastating sleep disorder that affects millions of women and men worldwide. It is characterized by repeated pauses in breathing during sleep, known as apneas, which can last over 10 seconds and occur numerous times throughout the night. These breathing pauses deprive your body of oxygen, putting your health at risk. The brain, sensing the oxygen deprivation, wakes you up to start breathing once again.
The most common form of sleep apnea is known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It results from the soft tissues in the back of the throat relaxing and obstructing the upper airway, disrupting breathing and interfering with your quality of sleep.
What Are the Symptoms of Sleep Apnea?
The following are the most common symptoms of sleep apnea:
- Loud snoring and repeated pauses in breathing during sleep
- Waking up choking or gasping for breath
- Morning headaches, fatigue, and daytime sleepiness
- Mood changes, including irritability and depression
- Unexplained weight gain
How Does Sleep Apnea Impact Your Oral Health?
Here is a look at some of the impacts of sleep apnea on your oral health:
- Mouth Breathing: People with sleep apnea often breathe through their mouths, leading to dry mouth (xerostomia). Dry mouth has been shown to increase the risk of plaque accumulation, bad breath, tooth decay, periodontal disease, fungal infections, and mouth sores.
- Teeth Grinding: Teeth grinding, a condition known as bruxism, often goes hand in hand with sleep apnea. Chronic teeth grinding can lead to uneven tooth wear, tooth fracture, periodontal disease, and an increased risk of tooth loss.
- TMJ Disorders (TMD): The temporomandibular joints (TMJs) are located on each side of your face and function to connect your jaw to your skull. Sleep apnea increases the risk of teeth grinding, which can lead to jaw pain, trouble chewing, clicking or popping in the jaw joints, limited jaw movement, and more.
How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?
If you have sleep apnea symptoms, Dr. Sri may recommend a sleep study to diagnose your condition. Traditional treatments involve using a continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP machine to blow a steady stream of pressurized air through the mask, which helps open up your airways and prevent breathing pauses during sleep. While CPAP therapy is helpful for many, some patients find the noise and hoses cumbersome and see little improvement in their quality of sleep.
Depending on your unique needs, Dr. Sri may recommend oral appliance therapy. Examples of oral appliances include a mouthguard-like device known as a mandibular advancement device that helps keep the jaw in a forward position, maintaining an open airway. Another option is a splint-like device known as a soft tissue repositioning oral appliance, which helps keep the tongue in position to keep your airway open. There are other oral appliance options, and the one right for you will depend on your unique needs.
Sleep Apnea Solutions Near Me in Reston, VA
At Ateeth Dental Care, we emphasize the importance of combating sleep apnea to maintain your oral health and general sense of well-being. Dr. Sri and her patient-centered team are happy to discuss oral appliance options to get you on track to prompt relief. You can always count on us for care that not only meets but goes above and beyond your expectations. We invite you to call 571-446-4060 or visit us online to book an appointment today!