You might not think about it much, but your sleep habits could be causing harm beyond your energy levels. If you wake up with sore teeth or a dry mouth, it’s not just a bad night’s sleep. The most likely cause of your problem is sleep apnea, which is a common underdiagnosed condition.

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that affects more than 930 million people worldwide, disrupting normal breathing during sleep. This interruption can lead to symptoms that may seem unrelated to sleep at all. If you’ve noticed cracked teeth or experience persistent dry mouth, it might be worth investigating the connection to sleep apnea. Let’s take a look at how these seemingly unrelated symptoms could signal a larger issue.

How Sleep Apnea Impacts Your Oral Health

Sleep apnea happens when the airway is partially or totally blocked while sleeping, and breathing pauses for a short time. These pauses in breathing can occur hundreds of times during one night, and the person may not even know it is happening. Sleep apnea can have profound effects on your oral health over time.

One of the more common dental signs of sleep apnea is bruxism (teeth grinding). Patients with sleep apnea will grind and/or clench their teeth during sleep. This constant pressure can lead to chipped or broken teeth. The constant clenching is most often a response to the airway being blocked because the body subconsciously tries to open the airway to breathe more efficiently.

Untreated bruxism can wear away tooth enamel, leading to cracks, chips, and other dental issues. The teeth may become sensitive and vulnerable to decay, leading to expensive dental treatments.

Dry Mouth: A Silent Sign of Sleep Apnea

Dry mouth is another sign of sleep apnea that patients often ignore. When the patient with sleep apnea cannot breathe through his nose, they’ll mouth breathe all night long. Sustained mouth breathing dries up saliva within your mouth, and you wake up with that nasty dry mouth sensation.

Not only is dry mouth irritating, but it also makes you more susceptible to cavities and gum disease. Saliva neutralizes acids, washes away food particles, and protects teeth from cavities. Without sufficient saliva, oral bacteria multiply in the mouth and cause cavities, gum infection, and other dental issues.

What Can You Do? Sleep Apnea Treatment in Beverly Hills

If you feel that sleep apnea is the cause of your cracked teeth or dry mouth, it’s necessary to treat it as soon as possible. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to a myriad of other serious health conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

The good news is that sleep apnea treatment exists in Beverly Hills, and the treatment for sleep apnea is tailored to patients’ needs. Treatment includes:

• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP): A CPAP machine keeps your airway open with a constant flow of air during sleep.
• Oral Appliances: A dental mouthguard fitted to your teeth can be worn during sleep to maintain an open airway.
• Lifestyle Changes: Weight loss, change in sleeping position, avoidance of alcohol and sedatives at bedtime can reduce the severity of sleep apnea.

If you see cracked teeth, dry mouth, or other signs of sleep apnea, don’t wait to get treatment. The earlier you do, the better. Early treatment can prevent long-term damage to your teeth, gums, and overall health.

At Oral Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery, we specialize in sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment. We offer patients comprehensive dental care that treats the root of their symptoms. Schedule a consultation today to discuss your treatment options.