Sleep Apnea: Get Better Nights Sleep

According to the National Sleep Foundation, “nearly one in four people with obstructive sleep apnea grind their teeth at night, and men are more likely to be affected.”

Common Symptoms of Sleep Apnea & Teeth Grinding in Adults

If you’re frequently waking up with headaches, earaches, tired, tight jaw muscles, or sensitive teeth, you are most likely grinding your teeth at night. Bruxism can also show up in worn-down teeth and changes in the shape of your teeth.

Sleep apnea, on the other hand, is slightly harder to detect. Some common signs of sleep apnea include:

• Snoring loudly
• Feeling tired even after a full night’s sleep and have excessive daytime sleepiness (hyperinsomnia)
• Trouble staying asleep (insomnia)
• Waking up with a dry mouth, sore throat, or headache
• Sometimes waking up gasping or with shortness of breath
• Waking up often to use the bathroom
• Attention, concentration, and memory problems
• Heightened irritability and mood swings

Common Symptoms of Sleep Apnea & Teeth Grinding in Children

Children also experience symptoms of sleep apnea and bruxism. Interestingly, a lot of these symptoms are similar to the symptoms of ADHD, such as difficulty with learning, poor attention span, and poor performance at school. Some other signs to look out for include:

• Snoring
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Heavy mouth breathing, both while awake and asleep
• Repeated pauses in breathing during sleep
• Bedwetting

Risks of Continued Sleep Apnea & Teeth Grinding

Left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to other serious health issues including type 2 diabetes, acid reflux, poor immune function, mental health issues, memory loss, and increased risk of stroke or heart failure.

Apart from the symptoms of the painful and tired jaw, headaches, and sensitive teeth, nighttime teeth grinding can break, loosen, or wear down teeth, enamel, crowns, and fillings over time.

The good news is there are several remedies you can try to help cure sleep apnea and teeth grinding, and in turn improving your sleep quality.

Tips for Eliminating Bruxism & Sleep Apnea for Improved Sleep Quality

A lot of these symptoms can be alleviated through simple lifestyle changes. These include:

• Manage stress levels (bruxism especially is a response to stress and anxiety).
• Lose weight and maintain a healthy weight (obesity increases the likelihood of airway obstruction and narrowed nasal passages).
• Try yoga (improves respiratory strength and oxygen flow).
• Limit alcohol intake. (Alcohol relaxes the throat muscles, which leads to snoring and interrupted sleep cycle, as well as contributes to inflammation of your airways, blocking your breathing).
• Quit smoking. (Tobacco causes inflammation and swelling in your throat).
• Change your sleeping position. (Sleeping on your back relaxes the throat muscles, thus restricting airflow).
• Use a humidifier (especially if you live in a dry climate).
• Improve sleep hygiene:
  • Reserve the bedroom for sleep only.
  • Keep a consistent sleep schedule, go to sleep, and wake up at the same times every day (even on weekends).
  • Avoid caffeine afternoon.
  • Avoid blue light from screens at least one hour before bed.
  • Try not to eat at least 2-3 hours before bed.
  • Keep your room dark and the temperature cool.
  • Exercise daily.
  • Practice a relaxing bedtime routine.

If these lifestyle changes don’t improve your sleep, some common treatments for bruxism and sleep apnea include medication, surgery, or the use of oral appliances to reposition your jaw or tongue to keep your airway open while you sleep. Getting fitted for a custom night dental guard can protect the teeth against grinding and assist with jaw alignment. The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine supports custom-fit appliances as “an effective treatment option for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)”.

Try implementing these remedies to improve sleep quality, as well as working with your dentist (or pediatric dentist for your children) to discuss your symptoms and find a solution that works best for you.