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Posted on 10/10/2018 by Dr. Michael Allard |
![]() If the brain cannot relax because of suffering from a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) condition, you could be lacking the sleep you need to perform your daily activities at school or work and your overall quality of life. How TMJ Affects Your SleepHaving TMJ not only affects you during the day, but it can also interrupt your regular sleeping patterns so much that its symptoms can cause other sleeping problems. Some conditions could be caused by TMJ, and a few may surprise you.Sleep apnea – more and more research indicates a close link between TMJ and sleep apnea, and we have recently discovered that in some instances the TMJ caused the sleep apnea. The position of the tongue impacts snoring and when there is a misalignment of the jawbone or teeth, the tongue can cause a blockage of the airways. Bruxism – is the unconscious grinding and clenching of the teeth, although sometimes this can happen during waking hours. If you ever noticed that you clench your teeth during a stressful time, you could have a form of bruxism which could aggravate a TMJ. However, the clenching that goes on at night is more damaging because of the force involved. Headaches – nighttime headaches that linger and wake you up, can also be the result of a TMJ. If you experience problems and other symptoms such as clicking or popping of the jaw, pain while chewing and snoring, you could have a TMJ that is causing those bothersome headaches. It is essential to discover what is causing your TMJ and tackle the problem before it affects other aspects of your life, such as sleep. Having a good night's sleep can help you manage the symptoms of any illness including TMJ. |
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