Tired of Waking Up Tired? Your Jaw Might Be to Blame
A frustration that many adults experience is waking up tired despite having had a full night’s sleep, with next to nothing to go on as to why. While there are many potential factors behind poor sleep, one you may have overlooked is jaw tension or misalignment. These conditions, and the pain they cause, could be impacting the quality of your sleep, but the good news is there are treatments that can help.
How Your Jaw Affects Your Sleep
Your jaw can affect your sleep in a few different ways, many of which fall under the umbrella of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. The TMJ itself is what allows the jaw to move, and a variety of issues can affect both it and the surrounding muscles. These go hand-in-hand with misalignment, which puts additional strain on the joint.
You may also experience bruxism, a condition in which you grind and clench your teeth during sleep. It typically occurs without you even realizing it, putting constant pressure on your jaw, disrupting your rest, and leaving you with soreness, jaw pain, and even headaches upon waking up.
Prolonged bruxism can leave you with lasting discomfort, which can lead to overall restless sleep, constantly tossing and turning through the night. This can often be mistaken for unrelated insomnia, as most people don’t draw the connection between their jaw pain and lack of rest.
Apart from bruxism, some people carry a lot of tension in their jaws during sleep. When these muscles are tense, they can affect breathing patterns and reduce the quality of sleep. These concerns are often closely related to sleep apnea, a condition in which you stop breathing and jolt awake during the night.
Signs Your Jaw Might Be Why You’re Waking Up Tired
Seeing as many things besides your jaw might cause you to not get a good night’s sleep, how can you know for certain that it’s your jaw causing the problem? Watch for other symptoms of jaw issues. Morning headaches, for instance, are among the most common signs of bruxism and TMJ disorders, and they’re often caused by serious strain on muscles around the jaw and temples.
Additionally, if you’ve ever asked your dentist or another healthcare provider about jaw pain relief, the same issues causing your discomfort or pain may also be behind your exhaustion after sleep. Jaw misalignment can put constant strain on the TMJ, leaving you with overnight soreness that persists throughout the day.
Problems with your jaw are also likely to affect your teeth. If you’ve developed tooth sensitivity, for instance, it could be due to nocturnal grinding wearing them down. You might even notice cracked or chipped enamel; in these cases, you may need a nightguard both to get better sleep and to protect your teeth.
Pain throughout different areas of the face often indicates jaw issues as well. The muscles supporting the TMJ stretch around the cheeks, ears, and neck, so while pain in those areas might seem unrelated, it is very likely related to strain on your jaw.
How Neuromuscular Dentistry Can Help
Asking a trusted Saint Joseph dentist about your lack of sleep will lead them to evaluate your jaw and other factors to determine whether they could be the cause. If a TMJ disorder seems likely, then neuromuscular dentistry can provide potential treatment options for lasting relief, as it focuses on the jaw, bite, and surrounding muscles.
Many neuromuscular dentistry treatments feature custom oral appliances. Similar to mouth guards, these are typically worn during sleep to reposition the jaw in a way that reduces strain. They can also protect your teeth from wear and damage due to clenching and grinding.
Your oral appliance will be fitted to your mouth and properly align with your jaw, which can help relieve pain and improve function. In addition to better sleep, you may also experience fewer headaches and alleviate any jaw discomfort throughout the day. A custom oral appliance can help improve your overall health as well, supporting proper breathing during sleep and preventing long-term damage to your teeth.
A Better Night’s Sleep Could Start With Your Jaw
Your jaw can have a major impact on your sleep, with teeth grinding, soreness, and headaches all playing a role. Addressing your jaw issues with neuromuscular dentistry can help you sleep soundly through the night and avoid waking up fatigued, sore, and with a headache. Instead, you’ll feel more alert and focused, with the energy to take on the day.
Berrien Dental is a trusted Saint Joseph dental clinic for neuromuscular dentistry. Schedule an appointment today to find out whether concerns with your TMJ and other jaw-related issues are the reasons you can’t get a good night’s sleep.