TMJ and Sleep Apnea — The Surprising Connection

Do you often experience jaw pain? Are you frequently tired throughout the day? Has your partner complained that you snore at night? If so, you might be suffering from both TMJ and sleep apnea in Boca Raton. Together, these conditions can endanger your health and lower your everyday quality of life. Let’s talk about how they may be connected and what you can do to find relief from both problems.

A Strong Association Between TMJ Disorder and Sleep Apnea

TMJ disorder, often referred to simply as TMD, can describe any number of problems that afflict the jaw joint. When the joint is placed under excess stress or is injured, you might experience a slew of symptoms, including facial pain, headaches, neckaches, difficulty chewing, and more. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder that causes pauses in breathing throughout the night.

Studies that examine the association between TMD and OSA have produced a range of results. Some data indicates that 75% of people with TMD also have a sleep breathing disorder, while 52% of sleep apnea sufferers also have TMD.

How Are TMD and Sleep Apnea Connected?

There are several possible reasons for why there is such a strong association between TMD and sleep apnea, including:

• They have common underlying risk factors. For example, a misaligned bite can contribute to a narrow airway, which increases the risk of sleep apnea. That same bite problem can also place a lot of stress on the jaw joint.
• Poor jaw positioning contributes to sleep apnea. People with TMD might have a jaw that rests farther back than it should. This positioning can lead to airway construction, especially at night.
• Sleep apnea contributes to TMD. During a sleep apnea episode, you stop breathing. To help you resume taking in oxygen, your body goes into panic mode, which causes tension in your muscles, including the muscles that control your jaw joint.

How Can You Find Relief?

Many people with TMD get relief from their symptoms via bite adjustments, facial massage, and stress management techniques. If you need sleep apnea treatment in Boca Raton, you may find that a custom oral appliance works well for you. It can hold the jaw in a forward position throughout the night, thereby keeping your airway open. If muscular tension due to sleep apnea is to blame for your TMD, sleep apnea therapy certainly has the potential to decrease your jaw discomfort.

Of course, both sleep apnea and TMD are complex conditions, so thorough diagnosis will be required before you can embark on any treatment. Hopefully, with the help of an experienced dental team, you will soon be on your way to better rest and improved oral health!

Meet the Sleep Apnea Expert

Dr. Kenneth Mogell is an accomplished sleep apnea dentist in the Boca Raton area. As a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, he has extensive knowledge in how to address sleep apnea with custom oral appliance therapy. To learn more about Dr. Mogell and his services, contact any of our three conveniently located offices or give us a call at 561-353-5252.