Sleep apnea, a common yet potentially serious sleep disorder, can have significant impacts on your daily life and overall health. While its association with factors like obesity and lifestyle choices is well-known, you might be surprised to learn that your dental health plays a crucial role in sleep apnea management too.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Before exploring how your dental health and sleep apnea are connected, it’s first important to understand what this condition is. Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. This interruption in breathing can lead to disrupted sleep patterns and a range of health issues. There are three main types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and complex. Each type requires specialized diagnosis and treatment to improve sleep quality and overall well-being. 

The Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Dental Health

Dental health can play a significant role in the development and progression of the three main types of sleep apnea. Here’s how: 

• Bite Alignment and Airway Obstruction: A misaligned bite or jaw structure can contribute to airway obstruction during sleep. This obstruction increases the likelihood of breathing interruptions, a hallmark of sleep apnea. At Dr. Joseph Goodman, DDS, we specialize in diagnosing and treating these bite issues, helping to alleviate sleep apnea symptoms.
• Bruxism and Sleep Apnea: Bruxism, commonly known as teeth grinding, is not only harmful to your teeth but can also exacerbate sleep apnea. The grinding motion can further strain the jaw and throat muscles, leading to increased airway resistance. Our expert team can create customized oral appliances to address both bruxism and sleep apnea.
• Overall Dental Health: Poor dental hygiene and untreated dental problems can contribute to inflammation and infections in the mouth. These oral health issues can negatively impact your airway and respiratory system, potentially worsening sleep apnea symptoms. Through our comprehensive dental care services, we focus on preventing and treating oral health issues to improve your overall well-being.

Comprehensive Solutions for Sleep Apnea in Lakewood, CA

Understanding the connection between sleep apnea and dental health empowers Dr. Joseph Goodman, DDS to offer tailored solutions. As a leading preventative dentist in Lakewood, CA, we offer a range of personalized treatments designed to address underlying dental issues that may contribute to sleep apnea. Through thorough evaluations and state-of-the-art diagnostics, we can identify signs of teeth grinding, jaw misalignment, and other dental factors that might exacerbate sleep apnea symptoms.