Recent dental and sleep research has revealed that clenching and grinding of teeth can often indicate underlying physiological issues and untreated sleep-related breathing disorders, such as sleep apnea. Clenching and grinding can result in head and neck pain, even in individuals without temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems. If left untreated, this condition can cause patients to wake up in pain or experience discomfort throughout the day.
Patients who wake up with headaches that subside or improve as the day progresses may be clenching and grinding their teeth during sleep due to untreated sleep apnea. Additionally, individuals experiencing muscle pain in the face upon waking may also be affected by this condition.
These symptoms are frequently misdiagnosed as TMJ issues, which is why it is essential to conduct screenings for both TMJ disorders and sleep-related breathing disorders, including sleep apnea. The positive news is that treating sleep-related breathing disorders, such as sleep apnea, can alleviate or eliminate TMJ symptoms in some cases.
