Respiratory Factor
The Daily Grind
Facts about the link between nocturnal teeth grinding and obstructive sleep apnea.
According to new research presented at CHEST 2009, the
75th annual international scientific assembly of the
American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), there is a
strong link between nocturnal teeth grinding, also called
bruxism, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Chew on the
following facts:
Number of OSA patients who are also teeth grinders: 1 in 4
Fact 1: Nocturnal teeth grinding is more common in sleep
apnea patients who are Caucasian than those who are of
other ethnicities.
Fact 2: Nocturnal teeth grinding is more common in male
than in female sleep apnea patients.
What Are the Connections?
- Sleep apnea can result in anxiety, and anxiety can
lead to bruxism.
- Sleep apnea can cause someone to ingest large
amounts of caffeine, which can lead to bruxism.
- Sleep apnea events often end in arousal responses
that manifest through the mouth, as in snoring,
gasping, mumbling and grinding the teeth.
Multiple Risks
In addition to the serious health consequences
of having untreated sleep
apnea, people with OSA who also grind
their teeth at night risk the following
complications:
- Excessive wear and tear on teeth,
possibly leading to cracked enamel
- Headaches
- Tempomandibular joint syndrome
(TMJ)
- Enlargement of the jaw muscle
- Hearing problems or loss
- Continuous positive
airway pressure (CPAP) therapy
may work to eliminate bruxism.
8%
of the U.S. general population
suffers from nocturnal teeth
grinding.
9% to 24%
of the general U.S. population
suffers from sleep apnea.
Sources: American College of Chest Physicians;
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
This article originally appeared in the Respiratory & Sleep Management March 2010 issue of HME Business.