Women’s Health Week: Why Your Sleep Could Be Connected to Your Oral Health

Women’s Health Week is Australia’s largest week dedicated to the health and wellbeing of women, girls and gender-diverse people. Run by Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, the annual campaign encourages people to make their health a priority and have conversations about the issues that can affect wellbeing at every stage of life.

In 2026, Women’s Health Week runs from 7–11 September, with the theme “Do it anyway”,  a reminder that looking after your health doesn’t have to mean making huge changes. Sometimes, it can be as simple as taking a moment to rest, asking a question, booking an appointment or addressing something you have been putting off.

Throughout the week, each day focuses on a different aspect of health:

• Monday – To Fuel: exploring nutrition and the simple food habits that can support your health.
• Tuesday – To Move: looking at movement and finding ways to stay active that work for you.
• Wednesday – To Rest: focusing on the importance of sleep and giving rest the attention it deserves.
• Thursday – To Breathe: focusing on mental wellbeing.
• Friday – To Connect: highlighting the importance of social connection.

Wednesday: To Rest

For Women’s Health Week, Wednesday is all about rest, and more specifically, the importance of getting good quality sleep.

Sleep is an important part of overall health and wellbeing, yet getting enough quality sleep isn’t always easy. Jean Hailes highlights that issues such as anxiety, perimenopause, pain, shift work and caring for young children can all make getting a good night’s sleep more difficult.

But sometimes, the things affecting your sleep may be connected to your oral health. Snoring, sleep apnoea and teeth grinding can all be reasons to talk to your dentist.

Is snoring keeping you or your partner awake?

Snoring is common, but persistent or loud snoring can sometimes be associated with restricted airflow while sleeping.

If you regularly snore, wake with a dry mouth or headache, or feel tired during the day despite spending enough time in bed, it may be worth discussing your symptoms with a healthcare professional.

Your dentist can assess your teeth, jaw and oral structures and talk to you about any signs that may be relevant to your sleep. Depending on your symptoms, they may recommend that you speak with your GP or another healthcare professional for further assessment.

What about sleep apnoea?

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a sleep-related breathing disorder where the upper airway repeatedly becomes partially or completely blocked during sleep.

Some possible signs include:

• Loud or persistent snoring
• Pauses in breathing during sleep
• Gasping or choking sounds during the night
• Waking with a dry mouth
• Morning headaches
• Frequent waking
• Daytime tiredness
• Difficulty concentrating

If you or your partner notices these symptoms, it is important to discuss them with a healthcare professional.

A dentist cannot diagnose sleep apnoea on their own, but they may notice signs that could warrant further investigation and can be part of a broader healthcare approach.

For some people who have been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnoea, an oral appliance may be considered as part of their management. These appliances are designed to help maintain the position of the jaw and/or tongue during sleep to assist with keeping the upper airway open.

Whether an oral appliance is appropriate depends on the individual and the nature and severity of their condition, so assessment by the appropriate healthcare professionals is important.

Are you grinding your teeth while you sleep?

Sleep isn’t only about breathing. Teeth grinding and clenching, also known as bruxism, can also occur while you sleep.

You may not even realise you are doing it. Some signs that may indicate you are grinding or clenching your teeth include:

• Waking with jaw tension or discomfort
• Morning headaches
• Tooth sensitivity
• Flattened or worn teeth
• Chipped or damaged teeth
• Tight or tired jaw muscles
• A partner hearing you grind your teeth at night

There can be a number of contributing factors associated with teeth grinding, clenching or TMJ Disorder. Your dentist can examine your teeth and jaw for signs of bruxism and discuss appropriate management options based on your individual circumstances.

Your dentist can be part of your sleep health team

When we think about improving sleep, we often think about creating a bedtime routine, putting our phones away earlier or making our bedroom more comfortable.

These can all be helpful steps, but it is also important to consider whether an underlying issue could be disrupting your sleep. If you are regularly snoring, experiencing symptoms that may be associated with sleep apnoea, or waking with jaw pain or signs of teeth grinding, your dentist can be a useful place to start the conversation.

A dental examination can help assess your oral health and identify signs of grinding, clenching or other oral factors that may be relevant to your sleep. Where appropriate, your dentist can also recommend that you seek further assessment from your GP or a sleep specialist.

This Women’s Health Week, do it anyway

Women’s Health Week is a reminder that looking after your health doesn’t always have to involve a major change. Sometimes, it’s about taking that one small step you’ve been putting off.

If you’ve been told you snore, regularly wake with a sore jaw, suspect you are grinding your teeth, or simply don’t feel rested after a night’s sleep, ‘do it anyway’: make the appointment and start the conversation.

Your sleep matters. Your oral health matters. And looking after one can be an important part of looking after the other.

If you have concerns about snoring, sleep apnoea, teeth grinding or jaw discomfort, contact your local Coastal Dental Care practice to arrange an appointment.