How Poor Oral Health Can Cause Insomnia
Good sleep is very important for our daily performance, well-being, and mood. Many people experience short-term sleep disturbances at certain periods of their lives, for example, due to stress. However, insomnia may persist over a long period, interfering with daily activities and affecting overall health. Here are its main signs:
- you have difficulty falling asleep;
- you often wake up at night;
- you wake up too early in the morning;
- feeling very tired or lacking energy during the day;
- problems concentrating that affect work or academic performance.
There are actually many reasons for insomnia. The most common include anxiety or stress, changes in daily routine or environment, unhealthy sleep habits (such as watching TV in bed), certain medications, chronic illnesses, and poor oral health. It’s important to promptly identify the cause and receive adequate treatment (often involves medications like Ambien, psychotherapy, stress-relieving activities, a balanced diet, physical activity, and sleep patterns) to avoid different health issues.
The Impact of Dental Problems on Sleep Quality
Dental issues, including inflammation, toothache, bruxism, tooth loss, etc. can significantly affect the quality of sleep, causing insomnia, restless sleep, which leads to tiredness during the day. The paragraphs below provide more information about this.
Toothache and Inflammation
All forms of intense pain, including dental pain, activate the nervous system and disrupt sleep by stimulating the brain. But why does oral pain worsen at night? This is due to the fact that when you lie down, blood rushes to your head. This creates pressure in the mouth area and intensifies the unpleasant pain symptom. Another reason is the lack of distractions. At night, the human brain is not occupied with anything and can focus on even the slightest discomfort. This makes it seem even stronger.
Insomnia caused by toothache increases stress levels. You may unconsciously clench your jaw or grind your teeth, which increases discomfort. It turns out to be a never-ending cycle: pain prevents you from falling asleep and lack of sleep makes the pain worse.
Regarding inflammation, periodontitis is the most common. This condition is characterized by inflammation and infection of the surrounding tooth tissue, particularly affecting the gums or bad teeth and often leading to daytime drowsiness or fatigue. Periodontitis may be the cause of intense discomfort and tooth loss, which is directly related to low sleep quality.
Breathing Problems
Some factors that provoke poor oral health, such as cavities, malocclusion (misalignment of teeth), etc. block the airway and trigger sleep-disordered breathing. People suffering from these diseases experience difficulty breathing while sleeping.
Sleep Bruxism
Bruxism occurs when the muscles of mastication spasm, causing involuntary teeth grinding while asleep. Approximately 10% of the population experiences this condition. Although it may seem minor, neglecting bruxism can lead to various problems in the mouth, muscles, and joints. It also affects the quality of sleep.
Many studies have found a connection between bruxism and insomnia. This is largely because teeth grinding leads to awakening during sleep, disrupts the normal sleep cycle. Constant tension in the chewing muscles may cause pain in the face, neck, and head, resulting in difficulties achieving restful sleep. Finally, bruxism can cause negative emotions and stress. This is also a common reason for insomnia.
Dry Mouth
Breathing through your mouth at night, especially when your nose is blocked, can result in dry mouth. Xerostomia affects approximately 5.5% to 46% of the population. When airflow is limited by sleep apnoea, individuals start breathing through their mouths. This negatively affects saliva production. Lack of saliva, in turn, triggers various oral hygiene problems such as caries, which disrupt restful sleep.
Tooth Loss
Missing teeth often cause difficulty sleeping because the tongue cannot fit comfortably in the mouth. The person may also have pain or discomfort. Additionally, tooth loss can lead to digestive and nutritional problems. This affects sleep quality as well.
Treatment Options
Oral health is directly related to sleep quality. Hence, it’s advisable to see a dentist to receive the necessary care (tooth extraction, cavity treatment, gum disease treatment, prosthetics, and other interventions based on the cause and symptoms). You can also use sleeping pills such as Ambien (Zolpidem) to maintain a normal sleep pattern. In any case, feel free to contact a doctor and get answers to all your questions.
