{"id":32,"date":"2022-04-01T16:24:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-01T16:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.abqsleeptmj.com\/blog\/?p=32"},"modified":"2022-05-05T16:31:37","modified_gmt":"2022-05-05T16:31:37","slug":"tmj-disorder-affects-sleep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.centersleeptmj.com\/blog\/2022\/04\/01\/tmj-disorder-affects-sleep\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Untreated TMJ Disorder Might Be Affecting Your Sleep"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Sleeping disorders are an epidemic\u2014over 40 million Americans suffer annually from chronic sleeping issues, and another 20 million experience occasional sleeping problems. If you fall into one of these categories, then you probably know exactly just how debilitating this can be\u2014you aren\u2019t yourself when you don\u2019t get enough sleep! But did you know that many people with sleeping disorders are simultaneously afflicted with problems in their TMJ<\/a>? Here\u2019s what you need to know about how untreated TMJ dysfunction can cause sleeping conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Importance of a Healthy TMJ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your TMJ (temporomandibular joint) is one of the most important joints in your whole body; it attaches your lower jaw to the temporal bone of your head, and when functioning properly, allows you to chew, swallow, and yawn with relative ease and no pain. But when it isn\u2019t working correctly, many problems can arise\u2014TMJ disorders can cause a lot of pain and discomfort in other parts of the body. Some symptoms include sleep apnea, teeth grinding, and tension headaches or migraines; all of which can impact your quality of sleep!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can TMJ Disorders Cause Sleeping Conditions?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are a few sleeping conditions that are directly related to TMJ disorders, with a common one being sleep apnea. Sufferers have trouble breathing as they sleep due to an obstructed airflow, and their body must continually wake up to normalize their breathing cycle. In many sleep apnea cases, a misaligned jaw joint is to blame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is also caused by jaw misalignment and makes you unconsciously clench your teeth together\u2014this can cause significant damage to them as you sleep! Severe bruxism can lead to further complications like lockjaw and tension headaches. Since it affects the alignment of your bite, bruxism also influences the integrity of your upper airway\u2014worsening the effects of obstructive sleep apnea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Signs That You Might Have TMD<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Research estimates that over 44 million Americans have one of the several variants of TMJ disorder, also known as TMD. Women are more prone than men, and pain when chewing is the most common symptom. Other warning signs include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n