What is sleep apnea?
This serious and potentially life-threatening breathing disorder is marked by brief interruptions in breathing during sleep. The condition can occur in people of all ages, including children, teens, and adults.
The airway may be obstructed for a certain period of time by any or all of the tonsils, adenoids, nasal obstruction, or tongue, which may not have enough room due to narrow or receded jaws. At night, the body must 'fight' to ensure air gets past the obstructions.
Can sleep apnea cause health issues?
When you suffer from sleep apnea, your body wakes you up to resume breathing. These multiple sleep interruptions prevent you from sleeping well and leave you feeling extra tired during the day.
Sleep apnea does more than make you sleepy, though. When left untreated, it can contribute to heart disease, diabetes, and other long-term health risks.
How can sleep apnea affect my mental health?
When it comes to sleep apnea, repeated pauses in breathing, along with ongoing sleep deprivation, can take a toll on the brain and may lead to personality changes, behaviour changes, stress disorders, memory loss, and similar complications. These can all impact your mental health.
If your mental health has been affected, you may find yourself struggling to fall asleep and stay asleep at night. Unfortunately, sleep deprivation can also contribute to mental health problems. This results in a cycle that, when left untreated, can severely impact your quality of life and ability to function.
Some of the ways that sleep apnea can affect mental health include:
- Increased risk of depression
- Increased risk of anxiety
- Increased stress on relationships
- Cognitive impairment
How can sleep apnea affect my physical health?
Sleep apnea is a serious condition and can significantly impact your physical health.
Complications of sleep apnea can include:
- Daytime fatigue
- High blood pressure or heart problems
- Increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and irregular heartbeats
- Type 2 diabetes
- Metabolic syndrome
- Complications with medicines and surgery
- Liver problems
- Difficulty concentrating
- Cardiovascular problems
The impact of sleep apnea on your physical health does not stop there. It may also negatively affect dental health in a number of ways.
The Connection Between Sleep Apnea & Dental Health
Sleep apnea can contribute to oral health problems, and dental problems can also cause sleep apnea.
Good, quality sleep keeps you healthy and reduces bad breath, mouth ulcers, and the development and progression of periodontal disease (gum disease). Dental problems associated with sleep apnea include TMJ disorder, bruxism (teeth grinding), and mouth breathing.
Signs of Sleep Apnea
Some symptoms of sleep apnea are specific to dental problems. Dental symptoms to look out for in adults, teens and children include:
- Clenching and grinding teeth during sleep, sometimes loud enough to wake you or your partner up
- Tightness and pain in jaw joints
- Sore and raw spots from chewing the inside of one or both cheeks
- Dull headaches that start at the temples
Be sure to discuss the above symptoms with your dentist. He or she may suggest ways to alleviate them. Your physician can determine if your symptoms are related to sleep apnea or other sleep disorders.
Treatment for Sleep Apnea
Your dentist may notice dental problems associated with sleep apnea and recommend you get in touch with your healthcare provider. Sleep apnea is usually diagnosed by a physician who will suggest corrective treatment measures, such as a CPAP machine.