What is the Link Between TMJ Pain and Sleep Apnea? TMJ pain that impacts your ability to sleep well may lead to poor sleep quality. So, what exactly is the “link”? How does TMJ affect OSA? Sleep apnea can also lead to poor sleep quality, which can affect TMJ pain and other chronic pain conditions. Your overall health can be impacted by either TMJ or OSA; however, having both can greatly impact your daily lifestyle. Using a combination of treatments, the MN Head & Neck Pain Clinics can align the jaw to clear obstructions and strengthen jaw muscles to boost your long-term comfort.