If you snore at night or suffer from symptoms like irritability, difficulty concentrating, morning headaches, or daytime drowsiness, you may have sleep apnea.
An under-diagnosed condition, sleep apnea can disrupt your (and your partner’s) sleep and have a detrimental effect on your overall health, putting you at risk for a wide spectrum of serious conditions ranging from heart attack to stroke, high blood pressure, heartburn, depression, and even memory loss.
Researchers suspect antimicrobial molecules contained within green tea helps preserve teeth (as long as you don’t add sugar).
A cup of green tea a day may keep the dentist away.
That’s the finding of new research published in Preventive Medicine. The findings show that drinking at least one cup of green tea a day increases the odds of keeping your teeth as you age.
The researchers suspect that antimicrobial molecules called catechins present in green tea and in lesser amounts in oolong tea provide the benefit. But be careful if you like your tea with sugar: sweetener may negate the effect, the team found.
“Green tea may have bacteriocidal effects, which would affect teeth, but only if you drink it without sugar,” said Alfredo Morabia, of Columbia University in New York and editor of Preventive Medicine, who wrote an editorial accompanying the new research.
“They also reported that drinking sweet coffee was actually deleterious,” he added. “Coffee alone had no problem, but sweet coffee would actually make you lose your teeth.”
Yasushi Koyama of the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine and colleagues looked at more than 25,000 Japanese men and women between age 40 and 64 in making the determination.
They found that men who drank at least one cup of tea a day were 19 percent less likely to have fewer than 20 teeth (a full set including wisdom teeth is 32) than those who did not drink green tea. Tea-drinking women had 13 percent lower odds.
One possible explanation for the benefits of tea drinking is that warm drinks wash out your mouth. But coffee, which also provides a mouth rinse, had no benefit, suggesting something else is going on.
Catechins have been shown to kill mouth bacteria associated with tooth decay and gum disease, so the researchers suspect this is what gives green tea its dental benefits.
“Previous research has indicated that regular consumption of green tea may lead to a lower instance of periodontal disease, a leading cause of tooth loss in adults,” said Samuel Low of the University of Florida College of Dentistry and President of the American Academy of Periodontology in a statement to Discovery News.
Maintaining healthy teeth and gums is part of maintaining a healthy body, Low said. “That is why it is so important to find simple ways to boost periodontal health, such as regularly drinking green tea — something already known to possess certain health-related benefits.”
By, Jessica Marshall at dentist.net
People who sleep either more or fewer than seven hours a day, including naps, have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, according to a new study.
Sleeping fewer than five hours a day more than doubles your risk of being diagnosed with angina, coronary heart disease, heart attack or stroke. And sleeping more than seven hours also increases your risk of cardiovascular disease; more than nine hours of sleep results in a 50 percent increase in risk.
The Daily Telegraph reports:
“The most at-risk group was adults under 60 years of age who slept five hours or fewer a night. They increased their risk of developing cardiovascular disease more than threefold … Women who skimped on sleep … were more than two-and-a-half times as likely to develop cardiovascular disease.”
In related news, researchers have also found that sleeping in after a few days of missed sleep can help restore you after missed sleep, nearly erasing any lingering sense of fatigue and mental fuzziness.
How much recovery sleep you need to feel recharged depends on how much sleep you’ve lost.
In the study, volunteers deprived of about three hours of sleep a night for five nights felt nearly, but not quite, back to normal after ten hours of sleep.
To help you get the optimal amount of sleep each night, U.S. News & World Report suggests:
“… [T]ry removing all electronic media devices — BlackBerry, TV, computer — from your bedroom. These distractions … are a prime reason many of us turn out the lights an hour or two later than we originally intended.”
Did you know that some of the most common dental injuries seen in patients under the age of 18 are from contact sports? And adults should protect their teeth as well when participating in any sport where injury to your face may be a factor. Whether you, or your children, participate in rollerblading, soccer, or football, mouthguards help prevent these injuries. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends mouthguards for any activity that could result in a blow to the face or mouth.
Made of easy-to-clean, flexible acrylic material, an athletic mouthguard covers teeth and protects faces, lips, gums, and jaws from injury. Various types of mouthguards exist, including store bought, mouth-fit, and custom-made mouthguards. All of these appliances will help you avoid facial injuries, but custom-made mouthguards are superior to the other options, because they fit better, allow you to speak easier, and don’t fall out. If you decide on a custom-made mouthguards, we will take molds of your teeth and send the impressions to a dental lab for fabrication. And we can make them in your team colors. Call us to find out more about how to prevent injuries to your mouth and teeth.
Snoring…Sleep Apnea… High Blood Pressure…Heartburn…Stroke…Heart Attack…Death. There is a statistical corralation between sleep apnea and heart attack. A person has 7 times the normal risk for heart attack if they are overweight, 7.8 times higher with hypertension, 11 times higher with smoking and a 23.3 times higher chance of having a heart attack if you have sleep apnea. Apnea means “without breath”. If you do not breathe for a period of 10 seconds, this is defined as “apnea” or an apneic episode. If you average 5-15 of these episodes in an hour of sleep, you are diagnosed with “mild” sleep apnea. 16-30 episodes per hour is moderate sleep apnea and over 30 episodes is considered severe. The average age of death for a person that has untreated sleep apnea is 55. Think of all the famous people who died in their sleep. You do not have to snore to also have sleep apnea. Taking this simple test can help determine your risk for sleep apnea. If you score higher than 10, then call our office for a consultation. Your life may depend upon it.
Sitting and Reading ______
Watching television ______
For more information, visit https://www.cfad.net/sleep-apnea-therapy.html .
by PRWeb
“The action of sugarless gum and candy containing xylitol has been a happy surprise to the healthcare community,” said Dr Allan Melnick, a clinical dentist from Encino, CA, USA. “This therapeutic sweetener substantially reduces the bacteria streptococcus mutans in the mouth. It lowers oral acid levels, adjusts pH and reduces tooth plaque, resulting in less tooth decay and gum disease.”
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol found in plants such as berries, corn and plums. It also is produced in humans during normal metabolism. Dental effects include inhibiting decay-causing bacteria from multiplying in the mouth, research shows. These bacteria, which love to feed on sugar, produce sticky acids that adhere to teeth. The acids damage tooth enamel by dissolving calcium on the tooth’s surface. Frequent use of xylitol — whether in the form of gum, mints, toothpaste or oral wash — appears to break this cycle.
“A yearlong study in Finland showed an 85 percent reduction in caries rates for subjects who chewed gum containing 6.7 grams of xylitol each day,” said Dr Melnick. “The same reduced decay rate was found in subjects who followed strict diet guidelines and used xylitol as a sugar substitute. In other short-term Finnish studies at Turku University, dental plaque accumulation was reduced by about 50 percent in less than a week of xylitol use.”
Similar results were found in more recent studies in Russia, the United States, New Zealand, Thailand and Canada. A Danish researcher has even correlated xylitol use by mothers with decreased tooth decay in babies. Decay in small children can have a devastating effect on the development of their adult teeth and urgently needs to be prevented, say dental experts.
“A 40-month, multi-national chewing gum study published in the Journal of Dental Research showed decreased tooth decay for children chewing xylitol gum in comparison to those who chewed none or had gum sweetened with other substances,” said Dr Melnick. “In a follow-up study five years later by the University of Washington, xylitol subjects showed a 70 percent reduction in tooth decay – evidence of long-term benefits. That’s huge, especially for high-risk groups.”
The sweetener has been linked to tooth self-repair, reduction in bacterial levels, improved saliva levels in dry mouth patients and reduced ear infection cases in children, says Trisha O’Hehir of Arizona, a dental hygienist, educator and a well-known xylitol expert. She notes that there is no aftertaste and xylitol has only half the calories of sucrose. Xylitol also has a slower rate of absorption than sugar — 88 percent slower — which helps to keep blood sugar levels stable.
Additional research has shown that xylitol — like bacteria — has the ability to adhere to body tissues. In a controlled study, solutions of xylitol were able to reduce the presence of staph bacteria. Lab animals given xylitol also exhibited an increase in white blood cells, which are part of a body’s natural defense against bacterial infections.
Animal studies in Finland indicate xylitol in the diet promotes the intestinal absorption of calcium and has the potential to reduce or reverse bone loss in humans. Its use is being considered as a preventive measure to deal with osteoporosis, which affects more than 10 million people in the United States.
The U.S. Army promotes the use of this sweetener in its “Look for Xylitol First” initiative, and in the last two years dental associations in Wisconsin, Hawaii, California and Arizona have endorsed xylitol for its preventive benefits. Several other state dental associations are planning the same endorsement shortly.
“The average American consumes half a cup of sugar a day in some form or other. It’s having a devastating effect on our teeth and overall health,” said Dr Melnick. “So, it’s crucial that we make changes. While diet modification, brushing and dental office visits are obvious, something as simple as chewing xylitol gum a couple times a day can help dramatically. It tastes good, it’s something you can carry in your pocket, and you don’t have to make an appointment. I recommend it to all my patients.”
(Edited by Fred Michmershuizen, DTA)
Dental experts overwhelmingly agree that daily flossing is a critical, preventive step in reducing tooth decay and gum disease. Flossing removes plaque between teeth and below the gum line — dislodging the pieces of food trapped between teeth which otherwise cannot be brushed or rinsed away.
Plaque build up causes gum disease (gingivitis) which affects some two- thirds of the U.S. population, while advanced-stage gum disease (periodontal disease) is the leading cause of tooth loss in American adults and affects between ten and fifteen percent of the U.S. population.
To receive maximum benefits from flossing, use the following proper technique:
(Photos courtesy of Colgate.com)
When you are flossing, you are doing a great service to your mouth. You can easily remove food that is stuck in between your teeth, not only saving you from potential embarrassment if people see it, but also to help prevent bacteria from collecting up against the gum line and causing gum problems. Flossing may even help prevent bad breath. In addition, having food stuck in between your teeth is quite irritating and sometimes painful, so flossing can help your mouth feel comfortable.
I’ve had a number of patients say to me, “Doctor, my dentist says I should get my heart checked out, what does a dentist know about hearts?” Then after some tests, I have to tell my patients, that, yes, their dentist was right, they have a heart problem. There is definitely a gum-heart connection and that connection is inflammation. Untreated chronic inflammation can lead to severe health complications.
This is how it happens. When you consume anything, residue collects on your teeth, and this residue forms plaque. Plaque is a sticky deposit of mucus, food particles and bacteria formed at the base of your teeth within hours of eating. If you don’t remove the plaque it can cause gingivitis, the collection of plaque in pockets between swollen gums and the base of your teeth.
Gingivitis is also the source of bad breath. Left untreated, gingivitis can lead to periodontal disease; also know as gum disease. Your mouth has the highest concentration of bacteria in your body under normal conditions, but if you have gum disease, the bacteria count gets even higher. Inflamed gums present a good portal for bacteria to enter your bloodstream and move on to your heart. There it can damage your heart walls or values. It might also provoke blood-clotting, leading to stroke or a heart attack.
The Good News is – You Can Stop Gum Disease At Your Bathroom Sink
Sadly, gum disease is one of the easiest preventable diseases out there. Yet some 50 percent of the adult population has gum problems. Good dental hygiene can eliminate or slow gum disease and all it takes is making a conscious effort to brushing your teeth after every meal and flossing before you go to bed.
Here are the steps recommended by the American Dental Association
Brushing Your Teeth
Flossing Your Teeth
Nutrients for a Healthy Smile
Nutrition plays an important role in gum health. Crunchy fruit and vegetables can actually clean your teeth as you are eating, and the acid delays the formation of plaque. Vitamins A, C, D, E and K and the B vitamins; folic acid; biotin; choline; calcium; zinc; and magnesium have all been found important for your oral health.
According to Aim International, two studies suggest that coenzyme Q10 and aloe are also helpful to gum health:
Two dietary supplements, coenzyme Q10 and aloe vera, are helpful to gum health. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) may help with periodontal pocket depth. In early research, Dr. Edward G. Wilkinson, of the U.S. AirForce Medical Center, gave patients 50 mg of CoQ10 a day. His patients experienced reduced periodontal pocket depth. Wilkinson said, “Treatment of periodontitis with coenzyme Q10 should be considered as an adjunctive treatment with current dental practice.” Later studies have reconfirmed this. Hanioka, et al., say “These results suggest that the topical application of CoQ10 improves adult periodontitis” (Molecular Aspects of Medicine. 1994. 15 Suppl)
Aloe vera is known to kill bacteria. Dr. Eugene R. Zimmerman and Dr. Ruth A. Sims have (Aloe Vera of America Archives, Stabilized Aloe Vera, Vol. I) noted that aloe does have bactericidal properties. This means it may be useful in periodontal disease, which is a bacterial infection. Simply rub the liquid or gel on the gums.
When you take care of your gums and teeth, you are helping yourself on many levels. Superficially, you will retain your beautiful, white-toothed, smile. Your breath will smell sweet. Moreover, your heart and arteries will have an added protection against the onslaught of bacteria.
Mark Rosenberg, M.D.
Institute For Healthy Aging
http://www.vitalmaxvitamins.com
Other identifying characteristics of a typical aphthous ulcer include:
Recurrent aphthous ulcers are usually smaller than 5mm and usually take about one to two weeks to heal completely. Larger ulcers that are greater than 10mm in size, called major aphthous ulcers, can take much longer to heal and may result in scars. Another type of aphthous ulcer, called herpetiform ulcers, present as many tiny ulcers that often appear on the tongue and typically heal within a month.
According to DermNet’s June 15, 2009 article entitled “Aphthous Ulcers,” approximately 20% of the population experiences apthous ulcers, which often begin to appear in younger years. About 40% of people who develop these ulcers have a family history of these painful sores. The above web page also shows nice quality, close-up pictures of aphthous ulcers.
Because aphthous ulcers may have many causes, many of which are still being investigated, it is important to seek the advice of a healthcare professional before attempting self-treatment of these ulcers.
If you would love a gorgeous smile, like the ones you see on magazines or the big screen, we suggest porcelain veneers. These thin shells of high-quality porcelain will cover the surfaces of your front teeth. While selecting traditional porcelain veneers, Dr. Hornstein will carefully consider your skin tone, facial features, and personal preferences.
The whole process, from design to placement, usually takes only two or three appointments. At the first visit, Dr. Hornstein will examine your teeth, take impressions, and prepare your teeth by removing a small amount of tooth enamel to make sure your porcelain veneers fit flush against the teeth and evenly with the gum line without appearing bulky. We will also fit you with temporary veneers, which give will give you a feel for your new smiles. Even the temporaries are a stunning change. Your family and friends will know something is different about you, but will not know exactly what it is. That is what a subtle yet dramatic change in your smile does for your appearance.
During the final appointment, the dentist will make adjustments if necessary and then place your final restorations, so you will leave with a magnificent smile.
Below are some before and after photos of our patients.
