You might think that once you’ve brushed, flossed, and settled into bed, you’re done for the day as far as your oral health is concerned. But a surprising number of oral health issues can arise or worsen during the night, often without you even realizing it until symptoms like pain or damage to your teeth or gums appears.
What happens in your mouth while you sleep can have some surprising and significant impact on your dental health and even your general health. Keep reading to find out how you can protect your smile, even in your sleep.
Nighttime Dry Mouth
While dry mouth can happen at any time, it can be particularly problematic when it occurs at night. Saliva is your mouth’s natural defense system; it neutralizes acids, washes away food particles, and fights cavity-causing bacteria. When saliva production drops overnight, your teeth and gums lose the protection it provides.
Causes of nighttime dry mouth can include:
- Breathing through your mouth: Congestion from allergies or a cold can force you to breathe through your mouth, saliva evaporates more quickly, leaning to a dryer mouth.
- Some Medications: Many common medications, including antihistamines, decongestants, and blood pressure drugs, list dry mouth as a side effect.
- Dehydration: Not drinking enough water during the day can lead to reduced saliva flow at night.
Left unchecked, chronic dry mouth significantly increases your risk for tooth decay, gum disease, and oral infections.
Tooth Grinding
Tooth grinding or clenching most often occurs during sleep, when you don’t even realize you are doing it. What you may also not realized is these episodes can be extremely damaging to teeth or oral health.
The consequences of untreated tooth grinding are serious and can include:
- Worn-down, flattened, or fractured teeth: Repeated friction wears away enamel, and intense pressure can cause teeth to chip or crack.
- Jaw pain and TMJ disorders: Grinding puts immense strain on the jaw muscles and temporomandibular joint, leading to pain, clicking, and headaches.
- Tooth sensitivity: As enamel wears away, the sensitive inner layer of the tooth becomes exposed which can cause sensitivity, especially to extreme temperatures.
- Damaged dental work: Fillings, crowns, and other restorations can be broken or loosened by the force of grinding.
Stress and anxiety are major triggers for grinding and clenching, but it can also be linked to an abnormal bite or sleep disorders.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. The most common form, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), occurs when the soft tissues in the back of the throat relax and block the airway.
While it’s known for causing loud snoring and daytime fatigue, many people don’t realize that a dentist is often the first to spot the signs and may even be able to help with treatment.
Sleep apnea affects more than just your mouth; it can lead to serious health problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Talk to us about your sleep apnea treatment options.
Protecting Your Smile While You Sleep
Recognizing that a problem exists is the first step. The next is seeking a professional diagnosis and treatment. If you suspect you’re suffering from any of these nighttime issues, it’s crucial to discuss them with us.
If you are waking up with jaw pain, headaches, or other symptoms, don’t ignore them! Contact our office today to schedule a consultation. We can help you identify the cause of your discomfort and discuss treatment options to both protect your smile and improve your sleep.