If you or a loved one suffers from sleep apnea or snoring, you may already be aware of the disruption these conditions cause to your nightly rest. What many people don’t realize, however, is how sleep apnea (also known as obstructive sleep apnea or OSA) and chronic snoring can affect your oral health. These sleep disturbances can lead to serious dental problems over time, which is why understanding the connection between these conditions and your oral health is crucial.

Understanding Sleep Apnea and Snoring

Before diving into the dental impact, it’s important to understand what sleep apnea and snoring are.

Sleep Apnea is a sleep disorder where your breathing is repeatedly interrupted throughout the night. These pauses in breathing can last anywhere from a few seconds to a minute or longer, and may occur dozens or even hundreds of times during a single night. The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), where the muscles in the back of the throat relax too much, causing a temporary blockage in the airway. This leads to oxygen deprivation, causing the brain to awaken the sleeper in order to resume breathing.

Snoring, on the other hand, is a result of partial obstruction of the airway during sleep. When air flows past relaxed tissues in the throat, it causes vibrations, which result in the characteristic sound of snoring. While snoring may not always be an indication of sleep apnea, loud or frequent snoring can be a sign that there is an airway obstruction, which may lead to sleep apnea over time.

Both sleep apnea and snoring not only disrupt your sleep, but they can also take a toll on your oral health.

How Sleep Apnea and Snoring Affect Oral Health

The relationship between sleep apnea, snoring, and oral health is significant. Here’s how these conditions can impact your smile:

1. Teeth Grinding (Bruxism): One of the most common side effects of sleep apnea is teeth grinding, or bruxism, which often occurs during sleep. As your body struggles to breathe properly, it can lead to tension in the jaw muscles. This tension can result in involuntary clenching or grinding of the teeth, which can wear down enamel, cause tooth fractures, and lead to jaw pain or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
   
2. Dry Mouth and Gum Disease: Sleep apnea and snoring can cause dry mouth, as people with these conditions often breathe through their mouths during the night. When the mouth is dry, it becomes more susceptible to bacteria growth, increasing the risk of gum disease, cavities, and bad breath. A dry mouth also reduces the natural defense against plaque buildup, making it harder for your teeth and gums to stay healthy.
   
3. Tooth Sensitivity: The constant clenching or grinding of teeth due to sleep apnea can cause wear on the enamel, leaving your teeth more vulnerable to temperature sensitivity, pain, and cavities. Over time, this can lead to significant dental damage, requiring restorative treatments such as fillings, crowns, or even root canals.
   
4. TMJ Disorders: The strain placed on your jaw from teeth grinding and clenching can lead to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. This condition affects the joint that connects your jaw to your skull, causing pain, stiffness, and difficulty moving your jaw. TMJ disorders are often associated with sleep apnea and bruxism.
   
5. Worsened Oral Health Due to Interrupted Sleep: Poor sleep quality, whether due to sleep apnea or frequent snoring, can exacerbate oral health problems. Research has shown that lack of sleep can weaken the immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off infection and inflammation, including gum disease.
   

How Oral Appliances Can Help

If you’re experiencing any of the oral health issues listed above due to sleep apnea or snoring, the good news is that there are solutions that can help. One of the most effective treatments involves the use of oral appliance therapy, which can address both snoring and sleep apnea while simultaneously protecting your teeth from the damaging effects of grinding.

Mandibular Repositioners and Tongue-Retaining Devices are two types of oral appliances that are commonly used to treat snoring and sleep apnea. These devices work by gently repositioning the jaw or tongue to keep the airway open during sleep, allowing for better airflow and reducing the chances of airway obstruction.

• Mandibular Repositioners: These devices work by repositioning the lower jaw (mandible) slightly forward, which helps prevent the airway from collapsing during sleep. By holding the jaw in a more forward position, these appliances can reduce snoring and alleviate the symptoms of sleep apnea, including the interruptions in breathing that occur during the night.
  
• Tongue-Retaining Devices: These devices help by holding the tongue in a forward position, preventing it from collapsing back into the throat and obstructing the airway. This can be particularly helpful for individuals who suffer from snoring or sleep apnea due to the tongue blocking the airway during sleep.
  

Both devices are typically custom-made to fit your mouth, ensuring comfort and effectiveness. They can be an excellent alternative to more invasive treatments such as CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machines, especially for those who find CPAP uncomfortable or difficult to use.

The Role of Sleep Medicine

In some cases, oral appliance therapy may be just one part of a comprehensive treatment plan for sleep apnea and snoring. Sleep medicine plays a key role in diagnosing and managing these conditions, particularly for individuals with moderate to severe sleep apnea.

A sleep specialist can help evaluate your symptoms, conduct necessary sleep studies, and recommend the best course of action for your specific needs. This might include lifestyle changes, weight management, or the use of additional treatments such as CPAP machines, depending on the severity of your condition.

What You Can Do About It

If you suspect that sleep apnea or snoring is impacting your oral health, the first step is to consult with your dentist. Your dentist can help assess the damage caused by teeth grinding, dry mouth, and other oral health issues linked to sleep apnea or snoring. If necessary, they can also refer you to a sleep specialist for further evaluation and treatment.

Investing in an oral appliance, such as a mandibular repositioner or tongue-retaining device, can offer significant relief by improving your sleep quality and protecting your teeth. These devices are comfortable, non-invasive, and can be customized to fit your unique needs.

Additionally, maintaining good oral hygiene, including regular brushing, flossing, and attending routine dental checkups, is crucial for managing the oral health effects of sleep apnea and snoring. Your dentist will be able to monitor your oral health and make recommendations to address any issues that arise due to these conditions.

Sleep Medicine in Georgetown and Savannah

At Medical Arts Dentistry, we are dedicated to the long-term dental health of Garden City, Richmond Hill, and the surrounding Savannah communities. We offer family dentistry for children and seniors, athletic mouthguards, dental sleep medicine, as well as treatments for TMJ and orofacial pain. If you’re ready for a regular check-up and professional cleaning, or a consultation about oral appliance therapy, dental sleep medicine, our cosmetic dentistry options or dental restoration treatments, call 912-355-0605 for our Savannah location and 912-921-0401 for our Georgetown location.