Getting a good night’s sleep is essential to having a productive day, but if you’re struggling to get the rest you need due to untreated jaw pain, it could be causing more than just exhaustion. Here’s why your TMJ disorder may be responsible for keeping you up at night, and how correcting it could help you get the rest you need!
What is TMJ Disorder?
TMJ disorder is a condition of the temporomandibular joint of the jaw that occurs when it becomes strained or injured. This can sometimes result in jaw stiffness and pain, migraine headaches, neck, back, and shoulder aches, and even conditions like tinnitus (ringing in the ears). There are many reasons a person can develop TMJ disorder, including injury to the jaw or misalignment of the joints themselves.
How Does TMJ Disorder Affect Sleep?
While TMJ disorder itself may not directly cause you to stay awake at night, the pain from it may make it difficult to fall or stay asleep. Furthermore, other conditions like bruxism (teeth grinding) may occur during sleep, exacerbating TMJ disorder and causing damage to your teeth such as broken, chipped, or cracked teeth and uneven wear.
Sleep Apnea and TMJ Disorder
Recent studies have shown there is a significant link between obstructive sleep apnea and TMJ disorder. Researchers believe one reason for this is because when your airway is blocked and you gasp or choke for air, you may instinctively push your lower jaw forward. This could happen many times throughout the night, aggravating your temporomandibular joint and causing a TMJ disorder.
How Treating TMJ Disorder Can Help You Get Proper Sleep
Sleep deprivation can do more than just make you feel tired. It can have many negative consequences including cognitive impairment, increased anxiety and depression, and the worsening of many medical conditions like diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. If you suffer from TMJ disorder and struggle to get to sleep because of it, speak to your dentist today about treatment. Stopping TMJ disorder pain can help you fall and stay asleep easier, allowing you to function better during the day and keep better control of medical conditions that may be made worse by sleep deprivation or sleep apnea.
Remember, jaw pain from untreated TMJ disorder can affect more than just your mouth. Treating this condition can also make positive changes to your sleep schedule and lessen the severity of other medical conditions. If you have unexplained jaw pain that’s keeping you up at night, speak to your dentist today about TMJ disorder treatment and get the rest and relief you deserve.
About Our Practice
At Sleep Rehab, Dr. Fedosky and Dr. Kessler have decades of experience treating sleep disorders and TMJ dysfunction. Whether you have symptoms of both conditions or just one, they can help customize a treatment plan for you that addresses your unique needs and helps you get the relief you need for a restful night’s sleep. To schedule a consultation for TMJ disorder treatment, visit our website or call us today at 972-496-0515.