It seems that both men and women with obstructive sleep apnea are at higher risk for major depression. A large nationwide survey showed that men who had been diagnosed with the sleep disorder had twice the risk of depression than men without. For women, the risk increased five times!
The research was reported in the April issue of Sleep and it also showed that simple snoring did not increase the risk of depression. Researchers were surprised by the fact that more than 80% of the individuals in the study who frequently snorted or stopped breathing during sleep had never been diagnosed as having obstructive sleep apnea. The researchers feel that the oxygen deprivation, or hypoxia, experienced by these patients may be affecting their neural activity leading to the depression.
According to Dr. Anne G. Wheaton of the CDC, “Sleep is essential and healthy sleep should be as important as healthy nutrition, physical activity and smoking cessation in promoting overall health.”
If you experience daytime sleepiness, snore loudly or have been told that you gasp or stop breathing during sleep you may have undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea. Left untreated sleep apnea can cause serious health consequences.
Please contact Bethesda sleep medicine dentist Dr. Bernard L. Greenbaum at 301-530-3600 today to schedule your consultation appointment. Screening and effective, comfortable treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is available.
We know that heart problems and dental hygiene have been linked. But a new study looks at people born with congenital heart problems. While these patients are treated for their conditions when they are young we need to know how dental hygiene affects them later on. Patients with congenital heart issues were the subject of two studies presented at a recent meeting on cardiovascular nursing.
It seems that overall, teens and adults with congenital heart problems have healthier behaviors than their peers. They eat healthier, drink and smoke less and are less likely to engage in illicit drug use. But, both the teens and adults studied had worse dental hygiene and visited the dentist less than their healthy peers. This could increase their risk of endocarditis.
Past efforts to prevent heart infections in the dental office focused on having patients take antibiotics before any dental procedure. Antibiotic therapies for heart patients have changed over time and patients should speak to their dentist and cardiologist about current requirements.
The studies presented recently have discovered that daily dental hygiene is more important for preventing heart infection. This means brushing and flossing every day and visiting your dental hygienist regularly. If your gums are healthy then you may be placed on a six month recall schedule. If there are signs of gum disease your dental hygienist will probably switch you to a 90 day recall schedule. This is to protect your health and to manage your gum disease, not just because she misses your smiling face!
In Bethesda, MD please contact Dr. Bernard L. Greenbaum at 301-530-3600 to schedule your dental hygiene appointment. Please inform us in advance about any medical conditions.
In Sweden you can buy high fluoride toothpaste without a prescription. Recently researchers at the University of Gothenburg evaluated the use of this toothpaste. The study has found using the high fluoride paste offers four times the cavity protection – if used a certain way.
Four times the cavity protection!
Volunteers brushed with either the high fluoride or regular toothpaste two or three times per day using several brushing techniques. Researcher Anna Nordstrom said “The study revealed that those who used a high-fluoride toothpaste three times per day had four times better fluoride protection in the mouth than those who used standard toothpaste twice a day.”
Sometimes we just can’t brush in the middle of the day so the researchers also looked at whether just massaging the toothpaste onto the teeth with a finger was as effective as the third brushing. The answer was yes, the massage method worked for giving teeth the additional boost of fluoride in the middle of the day but this method cannot replace brushing in the morning and at night. Remember that regular brushing, flossing every day and regular dental checkups can prevent cavities and gum disease.
For patients who are at high risk for cavities using a high fluoride type of toothpaste can provide extra protection. These types of toothpaste are available by prescription from your Bethesda cosmetic dentist. Maintain the fluoride protection – don’t rinse after brushing. You’ll just wash away all that protection. If the thought of not rinsing bother you try brushing with regular toothpaste, rinse, then do a second gentle brushing with the fluoride toothpaste, spit but don’t rinse!
Please contact the office of Dr. Bernard Greenbaum in Bethesda, MD today at 301-530-3600 to schedule your next appointment. Preventing cavities and gum disease is easy with regular dental hygiene visits.
“What does TMJ mean” asked a highly educated patient last week. “I keep hearing the term but I don’t know what it stands for” she went on. Well she isn’t alone, lots of people talk about TMJ but most don’t know what the letters mean.
TMJ actually stands for temporomandibular joint which is the jaw joint. The jaw joint is the most complicated joint in our bodies. Because the jaw muscles are so incredibly strong it is also subjected to forces that would destroy most other joints. Most of the time our jaw joints work just as they are supposed to: opening, closing, sliding forward and back and from side to side. Sometimes there are problems and that is when the pain and discomfort begin.
Temporomandibular joint disorder is the name of the condition and this is what most people are talking about when they say they have TMJ. Problems with the joint can also be called TMD. Pain may be experienced in the joint and include facial or neck pain, severe headaches, even pain in the shoulders or ears. Some patients complain of a feeling of “fullness” or tinnitus type sounds in their ears. Popping or clicking noises in the joint are very common and sometimes the jaw can become “locked” in position.
There are several causes for these problems. Accidents can cause accute joint problems. Many patients grind or clench their teeth, a condition known as bruxism. Over time, bruxism can damage teeth as well as the jaw joint. Teeth movement or old dental restorations that are out of alignment can also cause TMD. Women tend to experience more temporomandibular joint dysfunction than men and we are not entirely sure why this occurs.
Dental schools do not spend a lot of time teaching about the complex relationships between the joints, muscles, teeth and other tissues of the head and neck and how they work together in harmony. Dentists who have sought out special training in the field of neuromuscular dentistry are trained to understand and treat the jaw joint. Using specialized equipment a neuromuscular dentist can find the optimal resting placement for your jaw allowing your body to heal. Many patients will require a custom orthotic device to maintain proper positioning and to protect the teeth and jaw joint from the stresses of bruxism.
Daily headaches, facial or jaw pain can be frustrating and debilitating. Please contact Dr. Bernard L. Greenbaum in Bethesda, MD today at 8301-530-3600 to arrange your consultation to see if neuromuscular dentistry can help alleviate your pain.
You know that sugar-sweetened drinks are bad for your teeth but now there is evidence that they are also bad for your heart. Time to give up the soda six-pack and switch to something a little healthier.
The journal Circulation reported that men who drank a 12 ounce sugary beverage once a day increased their risk of heart disease 20% compared to men who drank non-sweet drinks.
“This study adds to the growing evidence that sugary beverages are detrimental to cardiovascular health.” said researcher Dr. Frank B. Hu. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States so any steps that can be taken reduce the risk should be taken seriously.
Over 40,000 men were studied and researchers found the increased risk even after they controlled for other factors such as smoking, lack of exercise, alcohol use and family health history. Having a sugary drink once or twice a week didn’t seem to have the same increase in risk. Although this study looked at men, previous research had found comparable findings about women.
Studies like this are needed to convince people to put down the sweet tea and soda (at least every day) and choose a beverage that is good for your smile and your heart. Remember, you don’t have to cut these treats from your diet completely — just remember that they are treats and shouldn’t be consumed every day. You’ll have fewer cavities and a healthier smile if you start drinking tap water instead of soda with your meals — this is especially important for your children!
Please contact the office of Dr. Bernard L. Greenbaum in Bethesda, MD at 301-530-3600 to schedule your next appointment. Working together we can reduce the damage caused by sugary sodas ensuring a sparkling white smile for life.
You could be putting your health at risk because of inflammation and not even realize it. Gum disease has been linked to systemic problems like heart disease, pre-term birth and diabetes but researchers are just beginning to figure out why the link occurs. The problems seem to stem from inflammation. 
Gum disease occurs because the bad bacteria that live in our mouths have not been kept under control. This causes our gums to become infected and inflamed. It has been discovered that these bacteria can get into our blood stream and travel throughout our bodies. Wherever they land they cause more inflammation. Inflammation is a normal part of our body’s immune response. While short-term inflammatory response can be a good thing and can help the body heal, long term inflammation causes damage to our bodies.
Why would anyone in Bethesda, MD have long term inflammation? One of the common causes is gum disease. Because gum disease is not obvious and does not cause pain until it has reached an advanced stage it can go untreated for a long time. Bleeding while brushing or flossing your teeth is a good sign that you may have gum disease.
Gum disease can be treated and the inflammation can be brought under control. The important thing is to brush and floss every day and visit your dental hygienist for regular professional cleanings. While those with healthy smiles may only have to visit the dentist every six months, patients with gum disease will be visiting more often.
Think of your dental hygiene visits as an insurance policy for the rest of your body! A clean, healthy smile can be yours by contacting the Bethesda, MD office of Dr. Bernard Greenbaum at 301-530-3600 today.
This week is National Sleep Awareness Week which reminds us that sleep is vital for our health. Lack of sleep or poor quality sleep does more than make you cranky and groggy it puts you at increased risk for health problems. Poor sleep is linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and erectile dysfunction.
Our immune systems suffer when we don’t get enough rest. A study in the journal Immunity showed that our circadian clock, which determines our daily sleep and hunger cycles, also appears to control an important immune system gene. So it is not just your imagination that you seem to get sick every time you get over-tired.
Many people have poor quality sleep because of snoring – either their own or their bed partner’s. Snoring can be a sign of a sleep breathing disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea and the health of the bed partner of the snorer is also effected because of disturbed sleep.
Treating snoring and obstructive sleep apnea using an oral appliance can allow both partners a good night’s sleep and lead to better overall health and well-being. Bethesda, MD sleep medicine dentist Dr. Bernard Greenbaum has extensive training in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.
Please contact our office today at 301-530-3600 to schedule your consultation.
Having a toothache is no fun and sometimes diagnosing the problem can be tricky. The top reasons for toothaches are cavities and gum disease but there are other causes for oral pain. An examination, including x-rays, is needed to diagnose the cause of the pain and decide the best course of treatment to relieve the discomfort. 
Most of the time the examination will show obvious decay or an abscess that is the cause of the pain. On some occasions the cause may not be obvious, sometimes the tooth that the patient is complaining about is healthy and it is an adjacent tooth causing the pain!
Other things we look at are recent dental restorations. Perhaps the reason for the pain is a crown or a filling that is not in proper alignment with the other teeth – the forces exerted by chewing can irritate the nerves and cause a toothache type pain. In some cases the pain is due to an improper bite or grinding of the teeth which causes pain and damage to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). In these cases it is important to restore the bite to the perfect position using the principles of neuromuscular dentistry.
In extremely rare cases toothache pain may not be caused by a problem with the teeth, gums or jaw but instead could be a symptom of heart disease (angina or heart attack), ear infection or even a sinus problem. If we are unable to discover a dental cause for the discomfort you may be referred to your physician to make sure no underlying medical condition could be causing the pain.
The good news is that most toothaches are caused by simple cavities and can easily be remedied by removing the decay and placing an appropriate restoration such as a tooth colored filling or crown. To avoid experiencing a toothache remember to schedule regular visits with your dentist and have all needed dental care completed as soon as possible — waiting until later to have that crown or filling replaced can lead to needing more expensive treatment such as root canal therapy or tooth loss.
Please contact Dr. Bernard L. Greenbaum in Bethesda, MD today at 301-530-3600 to schedule your appointment. Remember toothaches never happen during regular office hours so please don’t hesitate to call if you have an emergency.
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.
