A decent night’s sleep is crucial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Sleep assists the body in maintaining optimal levels of physical and mental energy. Nevertheless, few individuals are aware that dental health can directly affect sleep. Conversely, sleep deprivation could raise the risk of dental concerns, so there is a bidirectional relationship between dental issues and sleep. If you want to address your dental and associated sleep concerns, seek care from a sleep medicine specialist at Chase Dental Sleepcare. Otherwise, you will have difficulty maintaining a regular schedule. Meanwhile, continue reading to discover common dental concerns that can affect your sleep.
Gum Diseases
Gingivitis is a gum condition that causes the gums to swell. If not treated immediately, this condition can spread rapidly. Besides gum inflammation, gum disease could also cause discomfort and bleeding. Moreover, tooth extraction may be necessary if gingivitis develops to a later phase.
The swelling and pain associated with gingivitis can cause facial discomfort, which could disrupt your sleep cycle or routine. As such, treatment is appropriate to address this condition and enjoy a more restful sleep.
Tooth Loss
Numerous factors can cause tooth loss, be it dental trauma, cavities, severe infections, and more. The discomfort of losing a tooth can be so intense that it becomes hard for you to get a good night’s sleep. In this case, your only way to restore a healthy sleep cycle is to consult a dental specialist to address your concern.
Teeth Grinding
Teeth grinding is one of the most widespread signs of sleep apnea. Once your brain fails to receive adequate oxygen, the reflex behavior is grinding the teeth. In such a scenario, your tooth enamel could become compromised. As a result, you may have persistent and continuous pain. Similarly, the discomfort will prevent you from sleeping unless it is corrected.
Jaw Pain
If you have dental concerns, you should seek treatment as soon as possible. Prompt therapy is especially important if you have an infection, as it does not clear without antibiotics. Often, this infection will extend to other body regions like your jaw, causing additional issues besides the agonizing pain.
Jaw problems can easily cause facial discomfort, which typically rolls out into a headache. Consequently, you might experience disrupted sleep. Unless the underlying reason for your jaw pain is addressed, even painkillers will only be momentarily effective.
Cavities
Cavities can cause excruciating pain in the nerves directly above and surrounding your teeth. Only a dentist can detach these nerves from the teeth to alleviate the associated discomfort. You could result in a painkiller, but these drugs only temporarily numb your nerves. Cavities and enamel erosion are issues that necessitate adequate dental treatment. The severe agony will make it difficult for you to sleep until you receive therapy.
Dental health concerns have a direct correlation with your sleep. If you suspect any of these concerns could be the reason for your disrupted sleep cycle, you should contact The Physicians Choice for Dental Sleep Medicine & TMJ. These doctors have the skills and experience to deal with various oral health concerns and associated sleep issues like insomnia. Call the office near you or use the online booking tool to schedule an initial consultation today.