If you have a TMJ disorder (TMD), you’re more likely to develop sleep apnea. What’s more is that the opposite is true, too – if you have sleep apnea, your symptoms can contribute to TMD. Considering TMD affects your jaw while sleep apnea affects how well you breathe at night, you’re probably wondering how these two conditions are so closely related! Keep reading, because the connection might surprise you.
Connecting the Dots Between TMD and Sleep Apnea
TMD and sleep apnea are both complicated conditions that can impact many different aspects of your health. But what makes them more likely to appear as a troublesome pair is that they share many of the same risk factors.
When it comes down to it, sleep apnea is caused by an airway obstruction that becomes worse while lying in bed or sprawling on your couch. Often, this obstruction is created by overrelaxed oral tissue and muscles. If your TMD is characterized by jaw misalignment, this can actually shift tissue and muscle in front of your airway – thus triggering nightly apnea episodes.
Sleep apnea doesn’t change how your jaw is positioned, but it can cause muscle tension, which is also capable of stressing the temporomandibular joint. When you experience an apnea episode, your brain panics because it’s not receiving enough oxygen. This can cause a flight-or-fight response that forces your facial muscles to tighten. Over time, that tightness can build into tension and the chronic jaw pain TMD is infamous for.
Common Treatment Options
Since each case of TMD and sleep apnea is unique, finding the best treatment option for you will ultimately require a consultation with your dentist in Silver Springs. Depending on your situation, they may recommend one or more of the following solutions:
- An occlusal splint. This mouthguard-like device is worn over your teeth, and can adjust your jaw’s position to relieve TMD symptoms.
- Equilibrations/occlusal adjustment. When misalignment is caused by an uneven bite, reshaping your teeth can improve how your jaw sits at rest and release tension.
- BOTOX. Although its more commonly associated with cosmetic treatment, BOTOX injections do relax facial muscles and have been proven to temporarily treat TMD.
- Oral appliance therapy. Instead of wearing CPAP for your sleep apnea, you could simply insert a mouthguard-like device that will open up your airway.
TMD and sleep apnea might be complex conditions that can become intertwined, but with some help from your dentist, you can eliminate jaw pain and finally get a good night’s rest!
About the Practice
Our dental team at Exceptional Dentistry is uniquely qualified to address both your TMD and sleep apnea needs. Instead of visiting two different specialists, contact our office at 301-460-3331 and schedule an appointment with one of our professionals. We’ll help you find the right solution for these complicated conditions!