Ever wondered why you’ve been waking up after a night’s sleep disturbed or not well rested?
Find yourself irritable in the morning no matter how early you went to bed the previous day?
Did you know that the clue to your disturbed sleep could be hiding in your mouth?
Sleep disturbance is one of the commonest problems faced by almost 80% of the population, according to recent research. We often put it down to stress and anxiety, bad day at work, financial woes and more. Yet the root of the problem could be lying in your mouth, lurking away quietly and most definitely treatable when identified early!
In medical terms called ‘sleep apnea’, this potentially serious sleep disorder symptomatically shows up as irregular or paused breathing repeatedly during sleep without the person’s knowledge. If you snore loudly and are tired on waking up, you may have sleep apnea. Although often going unnoticed, this disorder can lead to a variety of health complications.
Sleep apnea is primarily of three types;
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea – The commonest type, this sleep disorder occurs due to relaxation of the muscles of the throat which blocks the airways
- Central Sleep Apnea – This occurs when the brain does not send signals to muscles controlling breathing
- Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome – This is when the person presents with both obstructive and central sleep apnea
You may wonder what has this to do with your teeth?
Generally, when you think of teeth straightening, it has entirely to do with the look and cosmetic reasons for aligning them. However, teeth straightening has much to contribute to the way you sleep as well.
Visiting the dentist for your sleep disorder does not add up, but often it is possible to find the root of your problem on the dentist’s chair OR you may visit your dentist for other issues like teeth grinding or jaw pain and correction of it may also resolve your sleep problem. Whatever be the case, visiting your dentist regularly is a must to rule out several issues. During the routine health history and examination,
- X-rays can show irregularities in tissues of the airways
- Signs of tooth grinding or bruxism
- Potential tooth breakage
- Temporomandibular Joint problems or jaw pain
- Lockjaw or clicking in the joints
The above problems often are not connected to sleep apnea but can indirectly exaggerate the problem.
Misaligned jaw and teeth are something we identify which when corrected can solve the sleep problem. Invisalign or clear aligners or even the traditional braces can help solve this. Similarly, bruxism or lock jaw often when identified and managed, can help sleep get better.
The best thing you can do for your health is visit your family dentist regularly. Come visit us, your neighborhood dentist Smile Station Dental Experience Center and we’ll help you set right your teeth and possibly solve your sleep problems too.
