Each year around 40 million people living in the US become victims of chronic sleep disorders. One common sleep disorder is teeth grinding, also known as bruxism. Not many people are aware that bruxism is often a result of undiagnosed sleep apnea.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea & Bruxism in Adults
There are good chances of you grinding your teeth at night if you frequently wake up with earaches, headaches, tight jaw muscles, tired, or sensitive teeth. Bruxism can also show up in worn-down teeth.
In contrast, it is slightly harder to detect sleep apnea. These are some common symptoms of sleep apnea, such as:
- Feeling exhausted even after a full night’s sleep
- Snoring loudly
- Having excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
- Trouble staying asleep (insomnia)
- Sometimes waking up with shortness of breath
- Waking up with a headache, sore throat, dry mouth
- Attention, concentration, and memory problems
- Heightened irritability and mood swings
- Waking up often to use the bathroom
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea & Bruxism in Kids
Kids also experience symptoms of sleep apnea and bruxism. Symptoms such as poor attention span, difficulty with learning, and low performance at school may indicate bruxism. Some other signs to look for:
- Snoring
- Bedwetting
- Heavy mouth breathing
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Repeated pauses in breathing during sleep
Risks of Continued Sleep Apnea & Teeth Grinding
If treatment is left overdue, sleep apnea can lead to other serious health issues, including poor immune function, type 2 diabetes, mental health issues, acid reflux, memory loss, and increased risk of heart failure.
Apart from the symptoms of the tired and painful jaw, sensitive teeth, headaches, and nighttime teeth grinding can break, loosen, or wear down crowns, teeth, fillings, and enamel over time.
Several remedies are available that you can try to help cure sleep apnea and teeth grinding, and improve your sleep quality.
To know more about the remedies, contact Sima Dental Family Dental Center, at 281-457-6444