July 9, 2011

Oral Cancer Warnings on New Cigarette Packs

The FDA has included a warning about oral cancer in its collection of images that will now be required on all cigarette packs, cartons and ads. The image selected is described as “cancerous lesion on lip” but also includes a set of severely damaged teeth. The images used in the campaign were all viewed by focus groups. This image was […]
July 6, 2011

Lack of Sleep Linked to More Pain

Poor quality sleep or not enough sleep may increase the perception of pain. A study from Harvard Medical School looked at health care workers and their length and quality of sleep. Sleep deficient was defined as sleeping less than six hours, feeling tired upon waking or experiencing insomnia (trouble falling asleep or waking up in the middle of the night). […]
July 1, 2011

Poor Oral Care Can Affect Your Love Life

Poor oral health can cause bad breath which will certainly interfere with looking for love. Recent research has discovered another way in which gum disease can ruin your love life and this has much more serious consequences. The research looked at 70 male test subjects and showed a correlation between gum disease and erectile dysfunction(ED). As the severity of the […]
June 29, 2011

People with Sleep Problems Use More Healthcare

Findings presented at the Associated Professional Sleep Societies 25th Annual Meeting showed that sleep problems are linked to increased utilization of health care and work absenteeism. The findings come from a review of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2005-2006. Compared with good sleepers, people who have trouble sleeping were more likely to have had […]
June 24, 2011

Your Oral Health May Deteriorate When Hospitalized

Lots of things are checked regularly when you are in the hospital but one thing that seems to be overlooked is your oral health. Recent research showed that the oral health of patients declined during their stays in the hospital and that poor oral health can be associated with an increased risk of hospital-acquired infection. The researchers reviewed data from […]
June 17, 2011

Severe Sleep Apnea Treated with Combined CPAP and Oral Appliance

Research presented at the recent meeting of the American Academy of Dental Sleep medicine showed that patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea were improved more with a combination of a mandibular advancement splint (a type of oral appliance) and positive airway pressure (CPAP) than by CPAP alone. The results of the study showed that patients were better able to tolerate […]
June 2, 2011

Worried About Germs?

No matter where you go today there seems to be antiseptic wipes or germ-killing gels placed for your protection. We wipe down the shopping carts at the grocery store and clean the TV remotes with alcohol wipes in the hopes we are protecting ourselves from germs. The makers of Listerine and Reach oral rinse products recently completed a survey about […]
May 25, 2011

What is Sleep Apnea?

When people talk about sleep apnea they are usually referring to obstructive sleep apnea or OSA. Obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic condition that occurs during sleep when the muscles in the throat relax, blocking the flow of air.The sleeper stops breathing for periods of 10 seconds or longer.  This causes the amount of oxygen in the blood to drop […]
May 5, 2011

Sinusitis May Be Caused by Dental Infection

Chronic sinusitis is a condition in which the sinuses become inflamed and swollen for an extended period of time. This painful condition leads to about 13 million visits to physicians each year. For many people a bout of antibiotics can solve their problem. Other patients aren’t so lucky and resort to surgery – which doesn’t always work. A group from […]
May 4, 2011

Chronic Headaches Can Be Caused By TMJ Dysfunction

Headaches are a common reason for doctor visits leading to invasive tests, referrals to specialists and many times, no diagnosis. It is frustrating for patients to discover that physicians cannot pinpoint the reason for the intense pain that plagues them. While the causes of many headache episodes are never found, a lucky few find their way to a neuromuscular dentist. […]
April 28, 2011

Sleep Difficulties Linked to Metabolic Syndrome

Snoring, trouble falling asleep and feeling tired upon waking are all signs that may predict the development of metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a medical condition linked to weight gain, heart disease and stroke. According to a study published a few months ago in the journal Sleep loud snoring was associated with more than twice the risk of developing metabolic […]
April 27, 2011

Save Your Heart – Treat Your Gums Right

The link between gum disease and cardiovascular problems has been well established by scientific research. The gum disease causes an inflammatory response in the body and inflammation is linked to atherosclerosis and can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. The bacteria commonly found in gum infections have been discovered in plaques in coronary arteries. The good news is […]
April 13, 2011

Summertime Sleep Issues

Summer will be here before we know it – even if it did feel like Winter would never end! Summer tends to bring changes in our regular routines. The kids are out of school, your favorite shows are off for the summer or maybe you like the summer replacements better, and there is always vacation time. These changes all add […]
March 24, 2011

Diagnose Sleep Apnea at Home

It is a life threatening medical condition that effects millions. But many people are going without getting diagnosed for the sleep apnea because of the hassle and the expense. Almost 20 million American’s may be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, in part due to the growing obesity problem. The rise in sleep apnea cases is also adding to our national […]
March 21, 2011

New Tobacco Products Bad for Oral Health

Did you know that Columbus was a test market for a new kind of smokeless tobacco? The tobacco companies are trying to find ways around smoking bans which have been enacted in so many places and one of the products being test marketed in certain areas are dissolvable tobacco products. According to the first study to analyze the ingredients in […]
March 17, 2011

Could Be Sleep Apnea Waking You Up, Not Prostate

A study completed by Ben-Gurion University has shown that many patients that blame enlarged prostates for their nighttime awakenings may actually be suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. The study compared randomly selected men between 55 and 75 years of age who were diagnosed with benign prostate enlargement and reported waking to use the toilet at least once per night. They […]
March 11, 2011

Spring Forward Time Change Makes Me Tired

Daylight Savings Time is set to return again – along with the annual  sleep disruptions that most of us experience following the changing of the clocks. The National Sleep Foundation suggests several steps to reduce the sleep loss and the grumpiness that “losing” that one hour of sleep brings for most Americans. The first step to any easy transition – […]
March 4, 2011

Dear Abby Readers Want Info on Snoring

A recent Dear Abby column printed a letter from “Seeking Slumber in Santa Barbara” who complained about one spouse’s snoring keeping the other spouse from a good night’s sleep. This writer was begging for solutions to her problem. The columnist rightly suggested visiting his or her physician to discover the cause of the snoring rather than relying on suggestions passed […]
February 25, 2011

Getting Diagnosed – Is It Really Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea is very common but most people suffering from the disease have not been diagnosed. New studies are proving that anyone, including children, can have sleep apnea. So how do you know if you have sleep apnea? Most people discover their disease because their bed partner complains about their loud snoring and gasping noises all night long. This […]
February 18, 2011

Fixing the Gaping Gap

David Letterman, Condaleeza Rice and model Lauren Hutton have always worn the gaps between their two front teeth with pride – but most people want the gap gone. The gap is known as a diastema and can be corrected by several methods. One way to close the gap is by using dental braces. For those who are seeking immediate gratification, […]