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The Con­nec­tion Between Oral Health and Sleep Apnea

The link between oral health and sleep apnea is not one direc­tion­al. There is an assump­tion that your sleep apnea has a neg­a­tive impact on your oral health, so address­ing sleep apnea will improve the health of your teeth. But there is anoth­er link that we don’t often think about: how does oral health lead to increased instances of sleep apnea?

It’s a link that isn’t often explored and it might not come up during your diagnosis for sleep apnea, but it’s one worth considering. Your oral health is clearly linked to your wider health, and understanding this link can help to deliver improved health outcomes. In this guide, we’re looking at how sleep apnea can damage oral health, and how issues with your oral health might trigger this sleep condition.

If you’re struggling with sleep apnea, your instinct might be to head to your GP, but your dentist should also be part of this conversation. While treating sleep apnea, your oral health could be impacted, so it’s vital to speak to your dentist about your treatment plan.

How does sleep apnea impact oral health?

Sleep apnea is a complex condition that impacts your quality of sleep. It occurs when the position of the tongue during sleep blocks the flow of air, leading to periods when your blood oxygen levels fall. This often triggers you to wake up and reposition yourself, which leads to poor sleep quality.

Your oral health can be impacted in a range of different ways, including:

  • Increased instances of dry mouth: Sleep apnea is often caused by mouth breathing at night, often while lying on your back. Mouth breathing will dry out your mouth, which leads to reduced saliva levels. Saliva is essential for neutralising acid in your mouth and protecting the teeth, so without this essential fluid, your teeth could be at risk of acid erosion and tooth decay. It can also lead to bad breath.

  • Bruxism and tooth erosion: We often see sleep disorders like sleep apnea alongside conditions like bruxism. This is when you unconsciously grind your teeth together at night. Your jaw has incredible strength and will exert significant pressure on your teeth. This can lead to erosion of the tooth surface in addition to fractures in the tooth. It can also lead to jaw pain and headaches during the day.

  • Malocclusion: The combination of grinding your teeth can cause your teeth to move out of alignment, which is known as malocclusion. This can further aggravate your sleep apnea, as it can move the position of your tongue at night and make it more likely that you will breath through your mouth instead of your nose.

  • Increased risk of gum disease: Dry mouth can lead to a build-up of bacteria in the mouth that attacks your teeth and gums all through the night. This could lead to inflammation of the gums, also known as gum disease. This inflammation attacks the structures that hold your teeth in place, and this could lead to tooth loss if left untreated.

How does oral health trigger sleep apnea?

There are many possible causes for sleep apnea, but your oral health could be one of them. Jaw alignment is often to blame when it comes to breathing through your mouth at night. Incorrect jaw alignment may lead to incorrect tongue positioning, which may lead it to fall to the back of your mouth when you drift off to sleep.

A narrow palate can also be to blame for sleep apnea, as it simply means there isn’t enough space for your tongue when you sleep. Orthodontics could help to change the shape of a narrow palate, allowing you to breathe more easily at night.

The causes of your sleep apnea are often very complex, and it could be that your oral health is just one part of the bigger picture. Regular checkups with your dentist are essential as they can help to spot these early signs of tooth damage due to sleep apnea, allowing you to take action before the issue becomes worse.

How can your dentist help?

There are many ways your dentist can help in your journey to addressing your sleep apnea. If you attend regular checkups, it will often be your dentist that is able to spot signs of sleep issues such as bruxism and oral health problems as a result of mouth breathing.

Alongside your GP and sleep specialists, you can devise a treatment plan that not only addresses the symptoms but also the cause. For example, you might benefit from orthodontics to correct your bite, which can make it easier to breathe through your nose.

Orthodontics can also correct issues that arise as a result of conditions such as bruxism. You might also benefit from a mouth guard you can wear at night. This will not only protect your teeth from grinding, but it can also hold your jaw in the correct position so that it doesn’t allow your tongue to fall to the back of your mouth as you sleep.

Final thoughts on oral health and sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a condition that will have wide reaching implications for your wider health and your oral health. It isn’t something you should ignore, and there are lots of treatment options available to help you to address these issues head on. You don’t have to only turn to your GP for advice, as a consultation with your dentist could help to address the core issue while also protecting your teeth and gums.

Con­tact our practice

The Implant and Cosmetic Smiles Clinic

27 Bed­ford Square,
Houghton Reg­is,
Dun­sta­ble,
LU5 5ES

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