How We Can Help Improve Your Sleep

Adequate sleep is necessary for optimal health. For those who are not getting the recommended 6-8 hours of sleep, every night can be a source of stress. If your lack of sleep is caused by problems related to teeth clenching, jaw pain, or head and neck pain, we can help! Read on to learn about chronic conditions that may be affecting your quality of sleep and how our team at Elevate Smile Design can treat these issues.

Dental-Related Reasons for Poor Quality Sleep

In addition to feelings of stress and anxiety, there are several dental-related conditions that can keep you from getting a good night’s rest:

1. Bruxism, or chronic clenching and grinding of your teeth, is a common problem that leads to jaw tightness, tooth sensitivity, and morning headaches.
2. Temporomandibular joint dysfunction, or TMD, can cause clicking of the jaw and feelings of tightness and pain in the head and neck.
3. Head and neck pain can be aggravated at night by another condition called obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea occurs when a cessation of airflow creates pauses in breathing. This leads to muscle tightening around the jaw, head, and neck. It can also lead to nighttime waking, daytime sleepiness, and irritability.

Head, Neck & Jaw Pain Therapy

Sleep apnea, bruxism, and TMJ dysfunction are serious conditions that can cause chronic discomfort and poor quality sleep. However, proper treatment can lead to better sleep and less pain. Dr. Perlman has received specialized training concerning sleep disorders and conditions that lead to head, neck, and jaw pain. This advanced dental education makes him uniquely qualified to offer sleep apnea therapy, bruxism treatment, and care for those with head and neck pain. Dr. Perlman will find a solution depending on the severity of your pain and its origin, your treatment may involve a combination of treatments like physical therapy, medication, occlusal adjustments, needling and BOTOX, bite splints, or a night guard.

As part of every comprehensive new patient checkup, we perform a full head and neck muscle and TMJ exam (whether or not you suffer from chronic pain) in order to establish a reference point for any changes!