Exceptional Dentistry Blog

Do you wake up in the morning with a jaw so tight that it’s difficult to open your mouth? Is it incredibly uncomfortable, even painful, when you open and close your mouth? If so, you could have a locked jaw from TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder) which commonly causes these symptoms. If this sounds like you, keep reading to learn more about what it is and what you can do to help yourself.

Your body really is interconnected. What affects one system may begin to affect another if you’re not careful. This may be the case with rheumatoid arthritis and sleep apnea. Studies have shown that there is a direct link between the two ailments even though they affect completely different parts of your body.

If you’re curious to learn how these seemingly unconnected disorders can affect one another, continue reading.

Sleep apnea is a life-impacting condition that can affect your physical and emotional health, and while it’s not always preventable, there are certain habits that could aggravate your symptoms. Recent studies published in Sleep Medicine, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and other journals, have explored the connection between alcohol consumption and sleep apnea. Learn more about what these studies found and how you can minimize the impact your symptoms have on your life.

Ringing of the ears, also known as “tinnitus,” is a condition that affects 50 to 60 million people in the United States. It is particularly common in people over the age of 55 and is strongly associated with hearing loss. However, this isn’t the only reason you could be experiencing this problem. A less obvious cause of ringing in the ears is temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD). Here are how these two issues are related.

Does your jaw sound like a popcorn machine every time you move it? Does it click whenever it opens, closes, or moves from side to side? This can happen for many reasons, and while some of them are innocuous, a few are not. If your jaw consistently pops and you experience any of the following symptoms, then it might be time to schedule an appointment with your dentist.

Every night, millions of people miss out on countless hours of sleep due to sleep apnea; in fact, it’s estimated that the condition affects up to 9% of all adults in the US, with many more cases remaining completely undiagnosed. That said, affected patients often wonder if there is anything they can do to manage their condition outside of professional treatment. Recently, certain essential oils have emerged as potential solutions for managing some sleep apnea symptoms. Here’s a closer look at the condition and which oils might prove helpful.  

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects millions of Americans, resulting in interrupted breathing patterns during the night. As this condition hinders a restful night’s sleep, it is understandable that you might seek daytime naps for rejuvenation. However, if you have a sleep disorder, assuming that a power nap will provide a solution can potentially do more harm than good. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the relationship between napping and sleep apnea. Keep reading to learn about how they’re related.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a crucial joint responsible for facilitating jaw movement and control, enabling essential actions like biting, chewing, speaking, and more. Many individuals don’t give these everyday movements a second thought until they encounter jaw pain. However, it’s important to note that migraines could potentially be linked to TMJ disorder. Fortunately, neither migraines nor TMJ dysfunction should be chronic issues that you have to endure. Keep reading for further insights into the correlation between migraines and TMJ dysfunction.

Sleep apnea is sort of a tricky subject in dentistry because it’s incredibly difficult for people to even realize they have it, and hard for those who have it to believe that it’s much of a problem at all. After all, if you can sleep through a health condition, how bad could it be?

It often isn’t until they get treated for their sleep apnea that they realize how much it has been affecting how they feel. In fact, addressing sleep apnea may actually increase your lifespan! Here’s some information about why that’s the case.

When you finally crawl into your bed after a long day, the hope is to wake up the next day feeling refreshed and ready to go after a good night’s sleep. However, if you have noticed your jaw is continually hurting first thing in the morning, it can zap the energy out of you and keep you from getting your day started on a good note. The good news is that your dentist may be able to help figure out what is the underlying issue and provide treatment. Read on to learn three common reasons for jaw pain in the morning.