Having a TMJ disorder means that the joint keeping your lower jaw attached to your skull is not functioning as it should. This can often lead to jaw pain, teeth grinding, and headaches. However, in some cases, the problems may go even further than that; studies have found that TMJ disorder can potentially be related to sleep apnea. Here’s how these two seemingly separate conditions may actually be linked.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a deceptively common sleep disorder. It can occur when your airway is obstructed while you’re asleep, thus causing you to temporarily stop breathing. Each pause can last anywhere from 10 seconds to two minutes, and they force your brain to wake you up in order to resume breathing. Leaving sleep apnea untreated means you won’t be able to get quality rest at night, which can have devastating health consequences.
How Can TMJ Disorder and Sleep Apnea Be Connected?
A TMJ disorder can have multiple possible causes, but in many cases, the issue lies with a misaligned jaw. This throws off the balance of your bite and puts unnecessary strain on your jaw muscles, thus leading to significant discomfort.
What does this have to do with sleep apnea? Simply put, when your jaw is misaligned, it can affect the positioning of your tongue. This could potentially increase the chances of your tongue blocking your airway and interrupting your breathing while you’re asleep, resulting in sleep apnea episodes.
Just as TMJ disorder can potentially lead to sleep apnea, sometimes the reverse can be true as well. As part of an instinctual effort to try and open your airway, your body may push the lower jaw forward. The constant movement of your jaw can put a lot of pressure on your jaw joints, ultimately leading to a TMJ disorder.
What Can You Do About TMJ Disorder and Sleep Apnea?
Regardless of which may have caused the other, it is highly advised to have both sleep apnea and TMJ disorder treated as soon as possible. The best form of treatment for either condition can vary depending on the circumstances.
In many cases, you can address both issues at once with a customized oral appliance. This simple device can be worn over the teeth much like an athletic mouthguard. It can reposition your jaw or hold your tongue in place in order to prevent the airway from becoming blocked. At the same time, it helps protect the teeth and jaw from any unconscious grinding and clenching that may be contributing to a TMJ disorder.
Are you suffering from jaw pain as well as a lack of quality sleep? Your dentist can help you find a solution for TMJ disorder and sleep apnea so that you can improve your quality of life and avoid worse problems in the long term.
About the Author
Dr. Heng Lim is a graduate of Baylor College of Dentistry, and he has been in the dental field for more than 30 years. He has completed the TMJ program at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. His practice, Life Smiles of Owasso, provides treatment for both TMJ disorder and sleep apnea. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Lim, visit his website or call (918) 274-3779.