The right amount and quality of sleep control our fundamental biological processes. If you consistently wake up feeling tired, there may be a more serious problem going on, such as a sleep disorder. Nearly 50 to 70 million persons in America suffer from sleep disorders. Insomnia affects 10%–30% of the population worldwide, and some studies have even found that it affects 50%–60% of people.
Symptoms of insomnia:
- Difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep
- Waking too early
- Non-restorative sleep.
- Feeling tired and irritated during the day.
It is considered that there is a connection between oral health and the quality of sleep. The quality of sleep can affect and be affected by poor dental health. On the other hand, having poor dental health will interfere with getting good sleep. A study was conducted to determine how frequently schoolchildren claim to have a poor sleep due to tooth issues and how this is related to oral health issues. As a result of oral issues, one-third of kids reported experiencing problems sleeping. A recent Japanese research concluded that dental hygiene patients are less prone to insomnia. If you wonder how teeth may be the cause of your insomnia? then read the below-given description that gets your answer;
How can teeth affect your sleep?
This is a serious concern among people. Can dental issues cause insomnia? The quick answer to this question is yes. Below, we will discuss some critical dental conditions that can cause insomnia.
Dental problems that can make sleep problems worse
Sleep apnea
Sleep apnea in adults: In OSA, which impacts 10% to 20% of middle-aged to older adults, the upper airway is repeatedly blocked as you sleep, which results in complete airflow stoppage or reduction. Between 6% and 84% of people with sleep apnea with their chief complaint as snoring, excessive daytime drowsiness, or problems with periodic breathing had insomnia.
Nocturia: As a common adverse effect of OSA, nocturia forces patients to leave the bed repeatedly; this alone is an evident reason for sleep disruption.
Apnea-induced arousals: Anxiety may be encouraged by apnea-induced arousals connected to feeling out of breath. Consequently, this can set the stage for increased alertness.
Sleep apnea in children: According to research published in the Journal of Dental Sleep Medicine, there are connections between poor sleep hygiene in children and dental disorders, including cavities and periodontal disease (Basma Tamasas et al., 2018). There are various health problems associated with childhood sleep apnea, including one that is sometimes disregarded: the harm to dental health. Children with sleep disorders frequently mouth breathe, which can seriously harm their gums and teeth.
Toothache and inflammation
A toothache is undoubtedly an enemy of your restful sleep. All types of extreme pain, including toothaches, severely activate your nervous system and keep you awake by stimulating your brain. According to a study, Teenagers who slept for 6 hours or fewer had a 1.23-fold increased chance of developing a toothache. However, because this problem makes a person uncomfortable 24/7, people rush to the dentist as soon as possible.
The term “periodontitis” describes an inflammatory condition and infection of the tooth’s surrounding tissues, particularly the gingiva. Because chronic periodontitis may result in severe pain and tooth loss, which disturbs sleep, it is strongly related to poor sleep quality. The research concluded that teenagers who slept for less than 5 hours were found to have a 2.28 times greater prevalence of periodontal disease.
Teeth grinding
Sleep bruxism is a repetitive sleep-related movement condition marked by jaw clenching and teeth grinding, mostly occurring during mild sleep phases or sleep transitions. It is widely reported in pediatrics, with a frequency of up to 40% during childhood and adolescence (Maria Clotilde Carra, 2018). Sleep bruxism can occur along with other sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, insomnia, and restless legs syndrome. According to recent findings, snoring and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is found in 35% and 16.7%, respectively, of people who grind their teeth. A restful night’s sleep might be readily disturbed by these concerns.
Common side effects of bruxism that can cause an interruption in sleep
- Headache and earache: It can cause headaches and other pain, leading to disturbed sleep patterns.
- Stress: It can be an indicator of stress which is a common factor that causes insomnia.
- Tooth loss: It may lead to tooth loss which directly causes insomnia.
Management of Bruxism:
- Occlusal therapy:
- Occlusal interventions
- Occlusal appliances
- Biofeedback
- Pharmacological approaches:
- Dopaminergic medications
- Serotonergic medications
- Antidepressants
- Selective alpha-2 agonist clonidine
- Occlusal therapy:
Dry mouth
A dry mouth will result from breathing via your mouth at night, mainly if your nose is congested. Between 5.5% and 46% of the population suffers from xerostomia (Alessandro Villa et al., 2014). People start breathing through their mouths when there is a decline in airflow because of sleep apnea. This would automatically negatively affect saliva production. Lack of saliva causes oral tissues to contract and dry up, causing oral hygiene problems such as the risk of dental decay, cavities, and pain that interferes with peaceful sleep.
Treatment:
- Muscle relaxants
- Artificial saliva
- Some sedatives
- Bladder medications that reduce urination
- Diuretics
- Acupuncture
- Antipsychotics
- Antidepressants
- Antihistamines
Tooth loss
According to a study published in the journal Sleep Medicine, a lack of teeth can cause insomnia and poor sleep since the tongue can’t sit comfortably in the mouth when teeth are lacking. The absence of teeth can exacerbate obstructive sleep apnea by interfering with the tongue’s tendency to relax. According to a study performed on US citizens, the prevalence of high risk for obstructive sleep apnea increases by 2% for every extra tooth loss in adults. It might be incredibly challenging to be able to sleep at night unless you get it fixed by a dentist.
How to increase sleep quality through oral hygiene
Simple oral care can help to avoid sleep disturbances:
- Use mouthwash: Mouthwash is the best approach because stubborn bacteria will be killed when you clean your mouth. Using mouthwash before bed can assist you in preventing cavities and plaques.
- Routine checkup: Visit your dentist frequently for regular checkups, even if you do not feel discomfort. According to Dr. Fox, regular dental checkups are crucial for dental hygiene because the early warning signs and symptoms of more serious oral health issues can be identified early at routine dental appointments.
- Brush your teeth twice a day: Try always brushing your teeth twice daily because, according to a 2013 Turkish research, those who do not wash their teeth every day have a greater chance of developing sleep apnea.
- Flossing: Plague accumulation may be avoided by removing food residue with dental floss. According to research, people who flossed daily reported more restful sleep and better energy (KAILASH ASAWA, […], and ARITRA MANDAL, 2017).
- Frequent cleaning by a dentist: Regular cleaning of teeth by dentists is necessary because they rinse your mouth and teeth deeply.
Choose MedsDental billing company for the billing services of your dental practice
It’s familiar to outsource the billing department to a reliable billing company. You may outsource your practice to MedsDental Dental billing company, which can provide precise billing for your dental office. Our experts are familiar with the processes involved in legally billing for sleep apnea dental equipment and other dental treatment services. To receive reimbursement swiftly, we submit precise claims with the proper coding and attachments. Our organization has incorporated cutting-edge, dependable technology to carry out each step quickly and efficiently; hence there won’t be any delay in any step. Now, you can focus on improving the sleep quality of your patients by providing the best dental treatment while we handle your financing section to improve your reimbursement. To secure your patients’ data, we also offer HIPAA-compliant billing services. For our partners’ financial benefit, we consider it essential to provide them with high-quality services. So why worry about billing when MedsDental is prepared to handle this task? Immediately collaborate and see miracles.
