Every day we are doing things to hurt our teeth and we don’t even know it. Some of the harmful habits we picked up because somebody told us that they were actually good for you. Well, what is good for one part of you may not be so great for another part. Here’s five ways we are hurting our teeth in Bethesda.
- 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!
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Do sleep problems affect your chances of developing prostate cancer? A study done in Iceland showed that men with the most trouble sleeping were twice as likely to develop prostate cancer. The sleep problem experienced by study participants was severe insomnia.
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.
No two patients with TMJ problems experience exactly the same kind of pain. Some patients have blinding headaches, some have jaw soreness, pain in the neck or ears — but everyone just wants it to go away. Here are a few self-help tips that will make you more comfortable until your appointment with your neuromuscular dentist.
- 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.
It has been proven that HPV infection increases risk for various cancers, including oral cancer. Thanks to a new study we now know that 7% of American adults and teenagers have the HPV virus in their mouths.
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.
Every year there are certain trends that get talked about — it happens in technology, fashion and yes, even our health! The Values Institute at DGWB, a national research group, determined the following are going to be hot health topics in 2012:
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 -Â 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
Here at the Bethesda office of Dr. Bernard Greenbaum we want patients to know that having a root canal is too important to joke about. Root canal therapy has been the subject of jokes about dental pain for many years. This is probably because many years ago it was not a pleasant procedure. Root canal therapy can stop the throbbing pain while saving the infected tooth and avoiding serious infection spreading throughout the body.
Good news — modern anesthetics allow this treatment with little discomfort.
“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.
What is the secret to looking younger to others instantly? Smile. It seems that facial expressions such as smiling or laughing make others think we look younger than we are. No Botox or surgery needed.
A study published in Psychology and Aging reported that when people looked at pictures of happy faces they guessed a lower age for the person in the photo than in pictures of the same person with an angry or neutral expression on their face.
Researchers say that smiling has been shown to make people look more attractive, which may make them appear younger. This research gives us another reason to smile all day long… unless you are unhappy with the appearance of your smile.
Cosmetic dentistry can turn that frown upside down and give you the beautiful smile you’ve dreamed of. Perhaps your teeth have become yellowed or stained over time then a simple whitening procedure can restore your teeth to their youthful shade. The appearance of crooked teeth can be changed in just a couple of visits using dental veneers. Bethesda cosmetic dentist Dr. Bernard Greenbaum can also give you a complete smile makeover that is perfectly suited to your facial features and personality.
Please contact Bethesda cosmetic dentist Dr. Bernard Greenbaum today at 301-530-3600 to schedule a consultation to see how cosmetic dentistry can make you smile.
Please contact us today at today to schedule your consultation.Â
As a dentist treating sleep apnea patients in the Bethesda, MD area I usually ask all of my patients about their sleeping habits and if they have a sleep problem. A national survey asked the same type of questions and an astounding 99% percent of the people surveyed reported at least one sleep complaint even though they rated their own health as good, very good or excellent.
Over half said they didn’t feel as if they were getting enough sleep, 45% said they snore, 45% also said they suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness, 37% had trouble falling asleep and 12% knew that they stopped breathing or experienced gasping while asleep.
What is worse than the 99% number is the fact that only 24% had told their doctor about their sleep problem. The data from the survey showed that while 4.6% had received a sleep apnea diagnosis, 33% of the people actually had the signs of sleep apnea.
Living with an untreated sleep disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea can cause serious health problems including cardiovascular disease, depression, diabetes and sexual dysfunction. Getting diagnosed and treated can drastically improve your quality of life and give you back the energy and pep that you thought was long gone.
If you snore, feel excessively sleepy during the day, have experienced weight gain or difficulty in losing weight or if you have been told to stop breathing during sleep you may have obstructive sleep apnea. To learn more about diagnosing your sleep problem and how your Bethesda sleep apnea dentist can help please contact Dr. Bernard Greenbaum at 301-530-3600 today to schedule your consultation.
Bethesda sleep apnea sufferers should be aware of the effects of sleep apnea on atrial fibrillation. Sleep disordered breathing such as obstructive sleep apnea has been shown to increase the risk of heart arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation (afib). A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology showed that the risk of having an abnormal heartbeat was 18 times higher immediately after an apnea episode compared to during normal sleep breathing.
Even more frightening, the sleep apnea did not have to be severe to raise the risk of afib. “Our focus was on individuals with mild to moderate apnea since it is those people we could compare periods of sleep where there were no apneas to periods where apneas occurred,” said coauthor Dr. Susan Redline of Case Western Reserve University. This work “underscores the tight link between heart disease and sleep apnea and the need to further evaluate the impact of sleep apnea treatment on reducing heart disease burden.”
Sleep apnea treatment is vital for maintaining a healthy heart. The gold standard for treating the disease is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), however studies show that about half of patients discontinue CPAP within one year and those that do continue average only about 3 hours per night. Another treatment that has been declared effective by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine but is not well known is oral appliance therapy available from a sleep apnea dentist who is trained in dental sleep medicine. An oral appliance is a small mouthpiece that is worn while sleeping and it works by gently placing your lower jaw in a position that keeps the airway open during sleep. No more blocked airway – no more apnea events.
To find out more about oral appliance therapy to treat your sleep apnea please contact Bethesda Sleep Apnea dentist Dr. Bernard Greenbaum at 301-530-3600 today.
Bethesda cosmetic dentist Dr. Bernard Greenbaum realizes that almost half of American’s make New Year’s resolutions but most don’t stick with them. Dr. Greenbaum has a suggestion for a resolution that can keep your smile beautiful and your heart healthy at the same time and it doesn’t involve a treadmill.
Get your teeth cleaned on a regular basis! 
It sounds too good to be true but science says otherwise. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in America so prevention should be on your list of resolutions for 2012. Research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in November showed that people who had their teeth cleaned had a 24% lower risk of heart attack and a 13% lower risk of stroke. By removing inflammation-causing bacteria from your teeth you reduce your heart disease risk.
Visiting your dental hygienist for a professional cleaning keeps your teeth sparkling and healthy. During your visit you will also receivean examination to make sure that no problems have developed since your last visit.
Once your teeth are clean it is the perfect time for teeth whitening. You can choose from one-hour in office whitening procedures or custom take home kits made especially for you. A whiter, brighter smile is the perfect thing to start the New Year.
Please contact Bethesda cosmetic dentist Dr. Bernard Greenbaum at 301-530-3600 today for more information and to schedule your next appointment.
