Sleep Apnea & Snoring
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition characterized by periods where you stop breathing for ten seconds or more while you’re asleep. It can occur hundreds of times every night, but you may not be aware of it because you don’t fully wake up. Only when your bed partner tells you’re snoring, choking, and gasping for air in your sleep do you realize something’s wrong – despite feeling like you never can get a good night’s sleep.
Research has indicated an association between sleep apnea and TMJ – temporomandibular disorder. Your struggle to breathe at night can cause your sleep to be fragmented and your brain to become aroused, which may cause you to clench and grind your teeth – a common cause of TMJ problems.