According to study author Dr. Yo-El Ju “Disrupted sleep appears to be associated with the build-up of amyloid plaques, a hallmark marker of Alzheimer’s disease, in the brains of people without memory problems. Further research is needed to determine why this is happening and whether sleep changes may predict cognitive decline.” The study showed that people who slept soundly throughout the night were 5 times less likely to have the plaque buildup. The researchers are not sure of the direction of the relationship, whether the sleep disruption is causing the brain changes or if brain changes are disrupting sleep. More research will be needed.

Sleep can be disrupted for any number of reasons; a barking dog, insomnia, a bed partner’s loud snoring or sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is especially dangerous because it affects the sleep of the person with the disease and also disrupts the sleep of that persons bed partner. The loud snoring and gasping throughout the night are not remembered by the sleep apnea patient but the spouse can describe the entire night in great detail. If you experience loud snoring and daytime tiredness you may have obstructive sleep apnea.

Please contact Bethesda sleep medicine dentist Dr. Bernard Greenbaum at 301-530-3600 to arrange for your screening for obstructive sleep apnea.

1. Using sports drinks after a workout. Sports drinks have become extremely popular but they aren’t great for your teeth. The drinks are typically full of sugars which act as food for oral bacteria. On top of that, the pH levels in many of these drinks can cause your tooth enamel to wear away. The combination leaves you with teeth that are open to decay and a well-fed army of bacteria ready to go to work on them!
2. Drinking wine. Even though we have been told that a glass a day is good for your heart, it isn’t so good for your pearly whites. This goes beyond the issues of stains from red wine. It seems that the acidity in wine, both white and red, can also erode your tooth enamel. To avoid this don’t swish the wine around in your mouth — take small sips and rinse your mouth with water after drinking.
3. Going on a diet. Losing a few pounds is good for your health, going on a very restrictive diet might deprive you of  vitamins and minerals you need for your healthy smile. Poor nutrition can also affect your immune system leaving you susceptible to infections such as periodontal disease. Proper nutrition and exercise are the keys to losing weight, crash diets are never the answer.
4. Drinking bottled water. Bottled water typically does not contain fluoride like many municipal water systems do. Fluoride is controversial for some but it has been safely added to water supplies for many years and has drastically cut the rate of cavities in children and adults in this country. This substance helps remineralize the teeth making them stronger and resistant to decay.
5. Adding lemon juice to your water. Many trendy diet books suggest adding a squeeze of lemon juice to your water to promote weight loss. It really just makes the water taste a little better so you’ll drink more of it. While drinking lots of water is fine, the added acids from the citrus juice are bathing your teeth and weakening your dental enamel all day long. Keep drinking water, just make it plain tap water.

What can you do to protect your teeth if you don’t want to give up anything on this list? Most people think they should brush their teeth immediately – not a good idea. Your enamel has been softened by the acids and scrubbing at it with a brush will only make matters worse. Rinse your mouth with plain water or better yet, chew a piece of sugar-free gum. The xylitol found in sugar-free gum actually inhibits oral bacteria and increases your saliva flow which will begin to remineralize your teeth. Follow up with a good brushing and flossing about an hour later.

If your habits have left you with a smile that is not as healthy and bright as it once was you have many options for restoring your smile. Cosmetic dentistry using veneers can reshape, rebuild and restore your naturally beautiful smile and dental bleaching is highly effective for removing stains on teeth.

Please contact Bethesda cosmetic dentist Dr. Bernard Greenbaum  at 706-886-9439 to schedule your consultation.

Previous studies had found a relationship between sleep disruption and cancer. Earlier research had shown that sleep problems caused by working the night shift had a bigger impact on the risk for prostate cancer the longer the man worked that shift. Working the night shift has been shown to suppress the immune system and reduces the amount of melatonin created by the body, both of which may promote cancer growth. The Icelandic research did not address whether treating the sleep problems would reduce the risk of cancer and other scientists caution that more research is needed.

I believe we are just discovering how important sleep really is for our overall physical and mental well-being. Sleeping with someone who disturbs your rest by snoring loudly all night long is simply bad for your health. If you are unable to get a full night of sleep because your bed partner is too loud then it is time to get help.

Snoring can be a sign of a more serious illness like obstructive sleep apnea. There are various ways to stop the snoring and keep sleep apnea patients breathing all night and one of the most effective is by using an oral appliance. Both bed partners can get a good night’s sleep once the snoring stops and you’ll both be amazed by how much better you feel and how much more energy you have.

Please contact sleep medicine dentist Dr. Bernard L. Greenbaum in Bethesda, MD today at 301-530-3600 to schedule an evaluation to see if you may be a candidate for an oral appliance.

• Go on a soft food diet. Avoid anything harder than cooked pasta. Think of your jaw as a sprained ankle and we want to take the weight off that joint for a little while.
• Stifle your yawns. Avoid anything that makes you open your mouth wide, so singing in the shower may need to be off the schedule for a few days.
• Don’t chew gum, or ice, or pencils, or your fingernails. If it isn’t food then it shouldn’t be in your mouth.
• Ladies, don’t carry your handbag on your shoulder. Using a backpack style bag is best. Carrying something heavy on one side of your body throws your spine and neck out of alignment and increases pressure on the jaw muscles.
• Sit up straight. Poor posture stresses the muscles even more.
• Hold the phone. Really, hold it in your hand not between your ear and shoulder. You will be surprised at how much better your neck will feel.
• Ice packs or heat packs may help. Ask your neuromuscular dentist which is right for you.

Proper treatment of TMJ disorders is complex. Some TMJ pain is caused by grinding the teeth during sleep, others may have damaged their jaw in an accident and some experience problems because of a poor bite. Neuromuscular dentists are specially trained to treat the jaw joint and to give you relief from TMJ pain.

In Bethesda, MD please contact neuromuscular dentist Dr. Bernard Greenbaum at 301-530-3600 to schedule your TMJ consultation. There is a way to end the pain, call us today.

Dr. Jessica Kepplinger evaluated 56 patients who had a stroke. They tested the patients for sleep apnea and found 91% experienced stoppages of breathing while asleep. They also performed brain-imaging studies of the patients and found that those people with sleep apnea were more likely to have experienced silent strokes according to the brain scans. The worse the sleep apnea, the higher the risk of silent strokes.

Dr. Ralph Sacco, past president of the American Heart Association said “There are many reasons to treat sleep apnea, including reducing the risk for clinical, and now, silent stroke.”

Sleep apnea treatment is available for patients who are CPAP intolerant. Oral appliance therapy keeps the airway open at night allowing you to breathe freely without surgery, masks or hoses. These amazing custom devices work by gently placing the jaw in a position that keeps the tissues of the mouth and throat from blocking the airway during sleep. No more snoring and no more gasping for breath during the night.

To find out if you are a candidate for oral appliance therapy please contact Bethesda Sleep Apnea dentist Dr. Bernard Greenbaum at 301-530-3600 today. We’ll be happy to schedule your appointment and answer any questions.

Researchers reported these findings in the January issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association. This study is the latest to associate good oral health with better overall health. Similar results have been shown for heart disease, pre-term birth and other disorders.

Preventative dentistry keeps our Bethesda patients healthy by using regular dental hygiene visits to keep your smile sparkling white and your gums healthy. Avoiding gum disease and the accompanying inflammation is especially important for our diabetic patients. Previous studies have shown that active gum disease makes it much more difficult to regulate blood sugar levels.

Dr. Bernard L. Greenbaum and his Team provide Bethesda preventative dentistry for all patients. “Your whole body is connected. If you keep any part of it healthy, that will keep the whole body healthier.”

Keep your whole body healthier by scheduling your next dental hygiene visit at the office of Dr. Bernard L. Greenbaum. Please contact us today at 301-530-3600,

This study may help us understand why the rates of one type of head and neck cancer, oropharyngea cancer, increased over 200% between 1988 and 2004. The study also showed that HPV is not transmitted through casual contact or kissing. The research was published online by the Journal of the American Medical Association.

HPV has been known as the cause of cervical cancer but can cause other types of cancer as well. The infection is extremely common – and it usually produces no symptoms and clears up on its own. Screening for oral cancers is more important today than ever before for adults of all ages.

In years past the typical oral cancer patient was an older man who smoked heavily and drank alcohol. Today the fastest rise in cases is appearing in young adults. Don’t forget to include an oral cancer screening in your next visit and talk to us about DNA testing to assess your risk for head and neck cancers.

For more information about oral cancer screening and to schedule your appointment please contact the office of Dr. Bernard Greenbaum in Bethesda, MD at 301-530-3600.

Hot Health Topics

• Sleep – Study after study confirms the link between poor quality sleep with  high blood pressure, heart disease, weight gain, depression and even sexual dysfunction. Anyone who snores loudly should be tested for a sleep breathing disorder such as sleep apnea to preserve their own health as well as the health  of their bed partner.
• Flexitarian eating - This means that more American’s will enjoy a few more vegan or vegetarian meals each week for health purposes but still eat animal protein on occasion. Vegan and vegetarian diets can be excellent for gum health.
• Natural energy drinks - Instead of Red Bull or 5 Hour Energy,  consumers will be looking for an energy boost from more natural ingredients like vitamins and tea extracts.
• Health Apps -  Do it yourself health applications for smart phones and tablet computers can do everything from monitor your moles and blood pressure to scan your sleep for disruptions. Expect to see even more as the Apple App Store expects their offerings to increase to 13,000 in this category by the end of the year.
• Digital Motivation – Track your fitness with a gadget or commit to losing weight via a Facebook page where your friends can help lend accountability to your actions.

According to Mark Weisman of the Values Institute “These trends are consistent with the growing importance of health in America — if not yet as a daily routine then certainly as a primary goal in 2012 for three out of four consumers… Health is the new prestige barometer in the country — meaning that the great majority of Americans would rather be considered healthy than wealthy.”

Let’s add improving our oral health to the list above. In 2012 make a commitment to proper brushing, flossing and regularly schedule hygiene visits. Overall health begins with a healthy smile and  sleep apnea dentist Dr. Bernard Greenbaum is looking forward to helping you make 2012 your healthiest year ever. Contact us at 301-530-3600 today to schedule your consultation

The study found that women with untreated, severe sleep apnea were 3 1/2 times more likely to die from heart disease or stroke compared to women without OSA. The study focused on treating the women using CPAP which uses a machine to deliver pressurized air through a mask to keep the throat open at night. Researchers found that using the machine for at least 4 hours per night reduced the risk for the women to equal that of patients without sleep apnea. Great news for those patients who can tolerate sleeping with a CPAP machine.

Sleep Apnea Help for CPAP Intolerant

The problem is that a lot of people can’t tolerate sleeping with a CPAP machine. They can’t find a mask that is comfortable, the tubing bothers them, they just feel claustrophobic… there are lots of reasons. For mild to moderate sleep apnea and for patients with more severe cases who are CPAP intolerant an oral appliance may be the answer.

A custom oral appliance is created in a lab and designed to gently hold your jaw in a position that keeps your airway open during sleep. No masks or electricity needed.

For more information or to schedule a consultation to see if you may be a candidate for oral appliance therapy to treat your obstructive sleep apnea please contact Bethesda, MD sleep apnea dentist Dr. Bernard Greenbaum at 301-530-3600 today.

“So what is a root canal and why do I need this procedure?” is a question I often hear.

Root canal therapy (also called endodontic therapy) deals with the inside structure of the tooth called the pulp. The pulp inside your tooth is made up of a complex of arteries, veins, nerves and lymphatic vessels. The pulp is what gives nourishment to the tooth from within keeping the tooth resilient and strong. The pulp of your tooth is also the part that feels the difference between hot and cold.

Problems with the pulp can start with bacterial infections caused by tooth decay, cracks in the tooth or trauma. The tissue in the tooth begins to break down and die and you begin to feel pain. At this point you can either remove the tooth or keep the tooth and clean out the pulp and replace it with a biocompatible sealer to fill the space — a root canal. Anesthetics ensure that you don’t feel discomfort during the procedure.

Dental pain in no laughing matter so please contact Bethesda dentist Dr. Bernard L. Greenbaum at 301-530-3600 today to schedule your appointment.