Most people think of orthodontic treatment as a way to achieve a straighter and more attractive smile, and while that’s true, what many don’t realize is that it’s also an effective way of correcting your bite alignment, or how your upper and lower teeth fit together. Furthermore, your bite alignment has a pretty significant effect on your overall health, including things like the quality of your sleep. This means that an improper bite can even lead to conditions like sleep apnea; however, orthodontic treatment can play a key role in preventing bite issues that would potentially cause sleep problems!
The Connection Between Your Jaw & Sleeping
Though it might seem odd, your jaw—specifically your bite pattern—greatly impacts your ability to sleep. When your bite is misaligned, whether due to crowded teeth, spacing issues, an underbite, overbite, or other bite issues, it can interfere with the natural position of your jaw and airway. This can lead to restricted airflow during sleep, snoring, jaw tension, and other debilitating symptoms. Over time, this can all continue to worsen until it becomes obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA. This condition causes you to wake up frequently at night to restore normal breathing patterns, and it can be absolutely devastating for your quality of life.
The Role of Orthodontic Treatment
Modern orthodontic treatment isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about function! Braces, clear aligners, and other solutions may make your smile prettier, but their primary purpose is actually to support your long-term oral health by improving how your teeth are situated inside your mouth.
For example, proper jaw alignment can create more space in the oral cavity and give air more room to move during the night. Aligning your bite can also reduce tension in the jaw joints and surrounding muscles, reducing the impact of bruxism, or teeth grinding. In some cases, correcting bite problems can even minimize the impact of soft tissues collapsing in the airway and contributing to sleep apnea.
Your orthodontist can perform a detailed evaluation of your teeth and jaw to determine if your bite is contributing to sleep issues like sleep apnea, and they’ll also be able to recommend treatment options like traditional braces, clear aligners, or different appliances aimed at improving bite function.
While you’ll certainly benefit from the impact these orthodontic treatments can have on the appearance of your teeth, more importantly, they’ll ensure that your jaw remains aligned so you can benefit from restful sleep each night!
About the Practice
With Dr. Anna Simon and Dr. Sam Alkhoury leading the way, our team here at Simply Orthodontics Framingham has proudly served patients and families in the area for several years. We offer a wide range of orthodontic services, including braces, clear aligners, and more—meaning that if your bite is impacting your sleep, we can provide you with a solution that makes a positive difference. If you have any questions or concerns about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with our team to set up an appointment, please reach out online or call today for more information or assistance. Telephone: (508) 250-0170.