Grinding Your Teeth and Sleep Apnea

COLUMBUS, OH – Research presented at a recent scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) found that nearly 1 in 4 patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) also suffer from bruxism, or nighttime teeth grinding. About 8 percent of the US population experiences bruxism, commonly known as teeth grinding, which is associated with TMJ problems, a bad bite or stress.

According to Dr. Shyam Subramanian of Baylor “High levels of anxiety can lead to bruxism, and untreated sleep apnea is known to cause mood disturbances including depression and anxiety.  Daytime sleepiness from sleep apnea may cause a person to ingest caffeine, and this has also been associated with a high risk of bruxism.”

Left untreated, teeth grinding causes extreme tooth wear and decay.  Gum tissue may be damaged and common complaints include jaw pain, headaches and neck pain – continued teeth grinding may also lead to temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

“Bruxism can be both a daytime syndrome as well as a nighttime syndrome, but it is bruxism during sleep, including short naps, that causes the majority of health issues” said Dr. Subramanian.  Fortunately, oral appliance therapy for obstructive sleep apnea is highly effective for treating both OSA and solving the problem of nighttime teeth grinding.

“Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea can lead to many secondary health conditions,” said Dr. Kalpalatha Guntupalli, President of the ACCP.  “When treating sleep apnea, clinicians must also recognize and address secondary health conditions, such as bruxism, in order to fully manage a patient’s sleep disorder.”  As an experienced neuromuscular and dental sleep medicine practitioner, Dr. Mark Levy is uniquely qualified to meet this need.

If you feel you are grinding your teeth during sleep and have a snoring problem or if you have been diagnosed with OSA contact our office to find out more about oral appliance therapy.  Patients in the Columbus, Ohio area call 614-454-3488 or click to arrange a consultation to discuss oral appliance therapy with Dr. Mark Levy.