Can Sleep Apnea Cause Dental Problems?
Does your bed partner complain about long, sleepless nights due to your loud snoring? This issue is much more than just a nuisance your bed partner must endure. It may actually be placing you at an increased risk of developing serious health issues in the future.
Often, snoring is an indicator that you suffer from sleep apnea. It’s one of the more common symptoms of sleep apnea. About 30 million people in the U.S. experience interrupted breathing during sleep, but only 6 million are diagnosed with sleep apnea. This dangerous condition occurs when your airway becomes blocked while you’re sleeping, preventing you from getting the proper levels of oxygen. In order to resume normal breathing, your brain must rouse you from sleep. This pattern can occur hundreds of times a night without you even being aware that it is happening.
Is Sleep Apnea a Serious Medical Condition?
In the short term, snoring can cause you to experience daytime fatigue due to a lack of a proper night’s rest. However, there are many more serious conditions that may develop as a result of sleep apnea. If left untreated, sleep apnea can increase your risk of:
Stroke
Heart attack
Coronary artery disease
Diabetes
Depression
High blood pressure
Fortunately, Dr. Marzban offers a variety of sleep apnea treatment options to help you eliminate your chronic snoring so that you and your bed partner can both sleep peacefully through the night. The first step in your treatment is to undergo a sleep apnea diagnostic exam. Dr. Marzban uses the WatchPAT™ device in order to achieve a comprehensive diagnosis in the comfort of your own bedroom, eliminating the need to spend the night at a sleep center.
What Are the Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea?
Your recommended sleep apnea treatment plan will vary based on the severity of your condition. For mild to moderate cases of sleep apnea, Dr. Marzban may recommend oral appliance therapy. During this treatment, you will wear a custom-made device while you sleep to ensure your airway remains open. The oral appliance works by:
Repositioning your tongue, lower jaw and soft palate
Stabilizing the jaw and tongue
Providing support to prevent your airway from collapsing while you sleep
Reshaping and retraining the airway with myofunctional therapy
Usually, sleep apnea is just a treatable condition. It is very hard to cure. However, it is sometimes possible to actually cure sleep apnea with myofunctional therapy. Once you manage to develop your airway and condition your muscles, you might be free of sleep apnea. Often this requires support from lifestyle changes, but as long as you keep up your recommended routine, you might be free of sleep apnea.
For more severe cases of sleep apnea, Dr. Marzban may recommend treatment with a (continuous positive airway pressure) CPAP machine. CPAP treatment involves the use of a machine that delivers a consistent flow of air pressure into your airway while you sleep.
Does Sleep Apnea Affect Oral Health?
Sleep apnea not only disrupts breathing, but it can affect your oral health.
Dry Mouth & Gum Disease
Individuals with sleep apnea frequently breathe through their mouths at night, which can lead to chronic dryness. A lack of saliva caused by dry mouth allows bacteria to linger and acids to build up. This increases the risk of cavities, gum inflammation, and periodontal disease.
Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)
Many sleep apnea patients unknowingly grind or clench their teeth during sleep. This condition is called bruxism, and can wear down tooth enamel, cause tooth fractures, and even lead to jaw pain or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
Bite Issues
Long-term breathing through the mouth can affect jaw development and alignment. In some cases, this may lead to bite problems or worsen pre-existing dental misalignments.
Risk of Tooth Decay
The combination of mouth breathing, reduced saliva, and teeth grinding helps bacteria grow and accelerates enamel erosion, making teeth more prone to decay.
Can You Have Sleep Apnea Without Snoring?
Many people assume that loud snoring is the sign of sleep apnea, but it’s possible to have the condition without snoring at all. Sleep apnea occurs when the airway becomes partially or completely blocked during sleep, causing brief pauses in breathing. Some individuals experience these pauses silently, without producing the typical snoring sounds. This is especially common in women, older adults, or people with narrow airways or anatomical traits like a recessed jaw. Silent episodes of sleep apnea disrupt oxygen levels and sleep quality, so the condition often goes unnoticed even though you still feel fatigue and headaches during the day.
Can Children Have Sleep Apnea?
Enlarged tonsils often cause pediatric sleep apnea, making it hard for children to breathe during sleep. Unlike adults, kids may act hyperactive or irritable during the day instead of feeling tired. Signs to watch for include loud snoring, mouth breathing, restless nights, or bedwetting. Left untreated, pediatric sleep apnea can affect growth, learning, and overall health, so early detection is extremely important. If you have any questions, contact us for an appointment to discuss pediatric sleep apnea treatment options.
How Do You Treat Snoring in Children?
The first step in managing pediatric snoring is a dental or medical checkup to determine what’s causing it. Enlarged tonsils or adenoids may require surgical removal, while dental interventions like palatal expanders can improve airway space. Early evaluation is key to treat snoring in children because it not only improves their sleep, but also safeguards their teeth and oral health.
Sleep Apnea Dentist in Burke, Fairfax & Northern Virginia
Sleep apnea doesn't just affect your sleep, but also affects your oral health. If you notice signs of persistent dry mouth, morning headaches, jaw pain, or worn teeth, or symptoms of sleep apnea in your child, contact us for an appointment so we can discuss treatment options and the best way to move forward. Addressing sleep apnea early not only protects your smile but also helps you wake up feeling well rested.
FAQs
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Sleep apnea is a disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, causing restlessness during the night and reduced oxygen levels.
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Although Hashimoto’s doesn’t directly cause snoring, the changes to your thyroid can increase the likelihood of snoring. Managing thyroid health and getting evaluated for sleep apnea can help those with Hashimoto’s who experience snoring.
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In some cases, Invisalign may help reduce snoring, but it depends on the underlying cause. Invisalign works by gradually realigning teeth and in some patients, can slightly adjust the jaw position. If snoring is caused by mild jaw misalignment or a narrow airway due to tooth positioning, Invisalign may help improve airflow and lessen the vibrations that lead to snoring.
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Treating sleep apnea whether with a CPAP machine, oral appliances, or lifestyle changes can help reduce mouth breathing, teeth grinding, and other oral complications so your teeth and gums are protected.
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The three primary types of sleep apnea are:
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)⎯This is the most common type which is caused by a blocked airway.
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA)⎯This type of sleep apnea happens when the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe.
Complex (Mixed) Sleep Apnea⎯A combination of OSA and CSA.
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Yes, children can have sleep apnea. They may snore, have restless sleep, mouth breathe, wet the bed, or show behavioral issues like hyperactivity or trouble concentrating during the day.
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Common causes of sleep apnea include obesity, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, certain jaw structures, nasal obstruction, and age-related changes in muscle tone.
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Untreated sleep apnea can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, and accidents due to daytime sleepiness.
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Dr. Pamela Marzban is the only dentist in the Burke, Fairfax, and Northern Virginia area offering WatchPAT™, an FDA-approved portable home sleep testing device. The WatchPAT™ makes it easy to get accurate sleep data from the comfort of your own bed—no overnight lab visit required. It records breathing patterns, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, and sleep stages to determine whether you have sleep apnea and how severe it is. Once your data is analyzed, Dr. Marzban creates a personalized treatment plan designed around your specific airway and sleep patterns.