Menu

817-735-4700

The Effects of Sleep Apnea on Dental Health

posted: Mar. 08, 2022.

Sleep apnea is an increasingly common medical condition, and one that can have a truly devastating effect on the waking life of the sufferer. Those who suffer from the disorder may find that they suffer any or all of the following side effects:

  • Saliva has several important jobs, and one of them is to protect and heal your tongue, your gums, and the inside of your mouth. Snoring and sleep apnea dry out your mouth, meaning there isn’t enough time for your saliva to do all this vital work.
  • Over an extended period of sleep apnea, it’s likely that the sockets of your teeth will begin to dry out overnight as a result of your gasping for air and snoring between breaths. If this happens too frequently over a long a period of time, it can start to loosen your teeth.
  • Those with sleep apnea often also practice bruxism, which is the habit of clenching and grinding your teeth together as you sleep. This can lead to all manner of problems, including TMJ disorder, damage to the enamel, headaches, and toothaches.
  • For obvious reasons, sleep apnea does not lead to a particularly good night’s sleep. This means that sufferers are often tired and irritable, and suffer from the many other ill effects of sleep deprivation.
  • While it is unclear whether the reasons behind this are correlative or causative, it has been suggested there are links between sleep apnea and cardiac arrests, depressive disorders, Type Two diabetes, cancerous tumors, “silent” strokes, and various complications of pregnancy.

While sleep apnea can be a troubling condition, the doctor and our team at Melanie L. Throne, DDS, PA will tell you it is eminently treatable. There are a number of ways to combat it, ranging from simple sleep hygiene to use of a CPAP machine. Of course, if it is possible for you to reduce your weight a little in a safe and healthy way, some have found that is also helpful in combating the problem. Sleep apnea is very easy to treat, once it has been correctly identified.

If you think you may be suffering from sleep apnea, or if you would like to know more about the condition, please give us a call at our convenient Benbrook, Texas office to schedule an appointment with the doctor.

Contact Us

Send Us an Email

Our Location

Find us on the map

Hours of Operation

Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-2:00 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-2:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Whitening, TMJ, TMD, Migraine Headache, AGGA Biobloc Alf DNA TAP Appliance, Orthotropics, Epigenetic Orthodontics, Cosmetic Laser Dentistry, Implants Crown, All on Four, Invisalign, Postural Restoration Institute, Craniofacial Dystrophy, Airway Centric Dentist, Breathing, Lip Buccal Tongue Tie, Breastfeeding, Nursing, Fillings, Myofunctional Craniosacral Speech Physical Therapy, Myofascial Massage, Veneers, Bridge, Partial Implant Overdenture Denture, Mewing, Tonsil, Adenoid, Deviated Septum, Turbinate Reduction, Neck Back Hip Pain, Scoliosis, Braces, Cranial Strain, Craniomandibular Orthopedics, Abscess, Deep Front Line, Cranial Nerve Function, Infant Frenectomy Stretches, Nasal Sinus Surgery, Root Canal, Mandibular Advancement Appliance, MAA, MMA Surgery, UPPP, NightLase, OroLase, BabyLase, LipLase, Snoring, Obstructive Central Sleep Apnea, Enuresis, Nocturia, ADHD, ODD, MTHFR C677T A1298C Factor V Homozygous Heterozygous Gene Mutation, ADD, Brain Health, Functional Anterior Galella Growth Appliance, Tooth Decay, Cavity, Riva Star Silver Diamine Fluoride, Fort Worth Benbrook Tarrant County Family General Physiologic Pediatric Childrens Holistic Sleep Dentist, Flossing, Brushing, Dental Medical Insurance, Nierman, OralDNA, Digital, Prosomnus, Snore, CPAP, Birth, Midwife, Doula, Bebe Myomunchee, Ankyloglossia, Anxiety, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ASD, Special Needs, Vaccine Injury, Buteyko, OMT, Down Syndrome, Ehlers Danlos, TRS, Arnica, Rescue Remedy, Folate Folic Acid, Homocysteine, Oral Surgery, Endodontics, Periodontal Gum Disease, Periodontics, Prophylaxis, Extraction, Toothache, Chiropractor, EyeLase, TightLase, Facelift, Botox, Stroke, High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Gluten, Autoimmune, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Home Sleep Study, UConcept, Polysomnography, HST, PSG, Trisomy, Loose broken baby tooth, eruption, Composite Porcelain, Facial Beauty Institute, Scaling Root Planing, Arestin, Saliva, Salivamax, Neutrasal, Dry Mouth, Biotene, Prevident, Muscle Relaxer, Allergy, Allergies, LPR, Laryngeal-pharyngeal Reflux, Inflammation, Uvula, Jaw Growth, tethered oral tissue, Grinding, Bruxism, Splint, Nightguard, Trauma, OralID, Schizophrenia, Depression, Heart Rate Variability, Rhinometer, Pharyngometer, Amalgam, Epworth, Lamberg, Debridement, Gingivitis, Gingival Graft, Xylitol, Hygiene, Hygienist, Emergency, Glo, UARS, Upper Airway Resistance Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Baby Led Weaning, Breast Prostate Colon Cancer, Thumb sucking, Tongue Thrust, Nitric Oxide, Night Terrors, Sleep Walking Talking, Fibromyalgia, CFS, Obesity, OSA, AHI, Hypoxia, Alzheimer's, Dementia, REM, Panic Attack, Premature Low Birth Weight, Erectile Dysfunction, ED, SDB, Sleep Disordered Breathing, SIDS, RERAs, Gelb, Leptin, Grehlin, Mouth Breathing Taping, Nail biting, Asthma, Bipolar, Ear Infection Tubes Grommets, Dark Circles, GERD, Nasal Dilator Cones, Xlear, Breathe Right Strips, TOTs, Thyroid, Habit Corrector, Lisp, Pregnancy, Newborn, NICU, Vaccinations, Herpes, Cold Sores, Canker Sores, Posture, Inspire, Hypoglossal Nerve, Pharynx, Pharyngeal Pillars, HRV, Dystonia, Tremor, Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, Dysautonomia, Circadian Rhythm, Tummy Time, Gummy Smile, Integrative Functional Dentistry, Slow Growth, Picky Eater, Sensory Issues, Texture Issues, Chewing, Gut Health, Probiotics, Immunity, Glymphatics, Lymphatic Drainage, Maxillary Mandibular Expansion, Distraction Osteogenesis, Sympathetic Autonomic Nervous System, Insomnia, Narcolepsy, Behavior, Sippy Cup, Pacifier, Stress, PANS, Tapping, Suicide, Screen Time, Blue Light, Sleep Hygiene, Infant Mortality, Aging, Breast Milk, Carotid Plaque, Atrial Natriuretic Peptide, ANP, scalloping, Concentration, Radiation, Chemotherapy, Anti-psychotic, Inhaler, Nebulizer, Otitis Media, Anesthesia, Sedation, Cerebrospinal Fluid, CSF, Upledger, Oxidative Stress, Weight Gain, Diaphragm, Forward Head, Dowager's Hump, Naps, Frenotomy, digital xrays, digital radiographs