The Connection Between Bruxism and Sleep Apnea - CONTACT US TODAY: HARDIN ADVANCED DENTISTRY 513-398-4448 5350 Socialville-Foster Road Mason, Ohio 45040
According to the National Sleep Foundation, in addition to stress and misaligned teeth, sleep apnea is also one of the biggest risk factors when it comes to bruxism. It is estimated that nearly 25% of people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) also have bruxism, with the majority of them being men.
Experts believe that the two may be connected because their causes somewhat overlap. For example, stress can cause a person to grind their teeth while they sleep, but it can also cause them to gain weight, which is one of the biggest contributors to sleep apnea.
Many patients who snore also have a condition called sleep apnea. This sleep-breathing disorder is defined as the cessation of breathing during sleep for at least 10 seconds at a time, five times an hour. That’s nearly a minute per hour or a 15% reduction in oxygen intake throughout the night! While we may think of snoring as merely a nuisance, sleep apnea and its side effects can have a serious impact on your overall health.
Sleep apnea has been linked to:
Hypertension Stroke Muscle pain Cardiac arrhythmia Loss of short-term memory Gastric reflux Diabetes Intellectual deterioration Memory and concentration impairment Heart attack Depression Fibromyalgia Inefficient metabolism Weight gain High blood pressure Severe anxiety Insomnia Mood swings
WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?
Dr. Hardin and his team will work in conjunction with your sleep physician to help manage your snoring and sleep apnea problems. A team effort has proven to be most effective when a patient is searching for a CPAP alternative. Many who are CPAP intolerant or just refuse to use CPAP will find relief with an oral appliance. In fact, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends oral appliances to manage mild to moderate snoring and sleep apnea, especially for patients who are CPAP intolerant.
CALL TODAY: 513-398-4448 TO SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION