Now a new study published online in The Journal of the American Medical Association has discovered at about 7% of us (American adults and teenagers) carry the human papilloma virus in our mouths. This study was the first to assess how prevalent this infection is in the US. The study also looked at how the virus spreads — casual contact and kissing are not likely causes.

A high percentage of our population has been exposed to HPV and most don’t know it because it typically produces no symptoms. The importance of regular screening for oral cancers is a message that needs to get out to the public. When diagnosed early these cancers have a high rate of cure. Unfortunately, most cases are discovered too late.

Because the rates of oral cancers are climbing fastest among young adults it is urgent that adults of all ages be screened for oral cancer on a regular basis. At your next visit please remember to ask us about how we perform oral cancer screening.

Please contact Dr. Beth Snyder  in Doylestown, PA at 215-348-9922 today to schedule your next appointment.

Apnea events are counted when the breathing stops or slows for at least 10 seconds at a time and this can occur many times each night. Those patients who stop breathing 10-29 times per hour are considered to have mild to moderate sleep apnea, those with 30 or more interruptions per hour have severe sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea has severe health consequences greatly increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Most women don’t realize that cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women in America so diagnosing and treating a risk factor like obstructive sleep apnea is vital.

Patients with OSA often go undiagnosed. They are not aware that they snore, gasp and stop breathing during sleep and may only seek diagnosis when a bed partner complains about the noise keeping them up at night. Women especially  may be diagnosed less frequently because daytime sleepiness is a key symptom that men report much more frequently than women. It is more common for breathing problems to keep women from falling asleep or staying asleep.

Treating obstructive sleep apnea usually involves sleeping with a CPAP machine which pumps air through a mask allowing the sleeper to breath all night. Unfortunately this treatment is not well tolerated by many patients. A very good treatment for mild to moderate sleep apnea is an oral appliance made by a specially trained dentist. The oral appliance is created in a lab and worn in the mouth at night and helps hold the jaw in a position that keeps the airway open allowing a full night of breathing and sleep.

If loud snoring, daytime fatigue and weight gain are a problem please contact  to schedule your consultation and discuss diagnosis and treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea. Please contact your Doylestown, PA sleep medicine dentist Dr. Beth Snyder at 215-348-9922 today to schedule your consultation.

A New Reason Dental X-Rays Are Important

A study from Sweden says that it is possible to use dental X-rays to predict which patients may be at risk of bone fracture. The research was published in the journal Nature Reviews Endocinology and showed that sparse bone structure in the lower jaw is an indicator that the individual is at greater risk for bone fractures in the future.

The study used data from the Gothenburg study of women that has been running for over 40 years. The researchers believe that although the study data was about women, the same link will apply to men. The study also showed that the older the person, the stronger the link between the sparse bone structure in the jaw and bone fractures.

Hopefully this research will translate into guidelines that can be used in dental offices since more people get regular dental x-rays than seek out bone density testing or other types of x-rays. A dentist could share x-ray data with physicians to help monitor those most at risk of fracture.

Please contact Dr. Beth Snyder, your Doylestown, PA cosmetic dentist at 215-348-9922 today to schedule your next appointment.

The first two on the list are closely linked. The rise of the energy drink market over the last few years has been remarkable — we are all feeling like we are lacking the energy we need to get through our busy days. At the same time the amount of sleep we get has been reduced to about 6 hours per night and about 75% of us complain of sleep difficulties at least a few nights each week.

Maybe if we all got a little more sleep and better quality sleep we could put down the can of Red Bull.

Sleep breathing disorders are a common cause of daytime tiredness for both the patient who has the disorder and their bed partner who suffers through the night by their side. People with obstructive sleep apnea snore loudly and repeatedly stop breathing during sleep, they waken momentarily to begin breathing again but don’t recall the incidents in the morning. They only know they wake up miserable and exhausted.

Their partner, on the other hand, is wakened many times by the snoring and gasping, causing fragmented, poor quality sleep. They remember the reason for their daytime tiredness all too well.

Sleep apnea takes a serious toll on the health of the person with the disease but we have also learned that the bed partner’s health can be affected by getting poor quality sleep night after night. If you want to stop the snoring and get some rest please contact the Doylestown, PA office of sleep dentist Dr. Beth Snyder at 215-348-9922. We will be happy to explain how an oral appliance can stop the noise and let you sleep – both of you!

Evidently the bacteria has a special bonding agent that allows it to unlock the cells on the surface of the blood vessel which allows it, and other germs such as E. coli, to cross the placenta and blood-brain barriers. The bacteria has been found in infections and abscesses in the brain, lungs, liver, spleen and joints.

So how does the bacteria travel from the mouth to the bloodstream? The most common way seems to be through small cuts or tears to the gums which is something we see in patients with gum disease. Infected gums are likely to bleed when brushing or flossing which allows the bacteria access.

Keeping your gums healthy by practicing excellent home care including brushing and flossing as directed by your dental hygienist is important.  Treating gum disease and getting it under control as soon as possible is very important for your overall health. If you experience puffy, sore gums or if you bleed when brushing or flossing you need to visit your dentist as soon as possible. We can now perform bacterial testing for periodontal disease which enables us to target treatment more precisely.

In  the Doylestown, PA area please contact Dr. Beth Snyder today at 215-348-9922 to schedule your dental hygiene visit. Remember that keeping your dental hygiene schedule of professional cleanings every six months (maybe more often for patients with gum disease) can help protect your overall health!

Top Reasons You Need Enough Sleep

• Memory and learning are affected by skimping on sleep. While we are sleeping our brain catalogs and organizes our memories. Studies show that people who sleep after learning a task do better on tests later.
• Weight gain is affected by short sleep. When we don’t get enough quality sleep time our bodies change the output of hormones that affect appetite.
• Lack of sleep makes us cranky – actually lack of sleep has been linked to moodiness and inability to concentrate.
• Your immune system needs sleep to keep you healthy. Studies have shown that sleep deprivation alters the activity of the cells of our immune systems.
• Your heart and cardiovascular system need you to get enough sleep. Sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea have been linked to increased risk of stroke, heart attack and high blood pressure.

So why is a dentist blogging about the importance of sleep? The first reason is that I am interested in the overall health of my patients — overall health and oral health are closely linked. The second reason is my interest in sleep disorders, particularly the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.

Too many patients who are diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea are not compliant with the treatment they have been prescribed — a CPAP machine. A much easier therapy for most patients is sleeping with an oral appliance that places the jaw in a position that keeps the airway open during sleep.

To find out if you are a candidate for an oral appliance to treat your snoring or obstructive sleep apnea please contactDr. Beth Snyder at her Doylestown, PA office at 215-348-9922 today.

During the day our saliva is constantly rinsing our teeth and washing away food particles.  During the night  production of saliva is greatly reduced.  The study about dental health and late night snacks was conducted by researchers at the University of Missouri – Kansas City and Copenhagen University in Denmark.  Using data from a  World Health Organization medical study called MONICA (MONItoring trends and determinants of CArdiovacular disease) they looked at the oral health, eating behaviors and general health of the subjects.  They discovered that about 8% of them were night-time eaters (they ate after dinner or woke at night to eat).

Even after taking into account the type of food eaten at night, whether it contained sugar or carbohydrates (both favorite foods of oral bacteria which cause gum disease), the people who ate at night lost more teeth than people who didn’t eat at night. To prevent tooth loss if you are a night time eater, the researchers strongly suggest that everyone should have only water during the final hour before bedtime and then brush their teeth.

Remember to visit your dentist every six months for a professional cleaning and checkup to keep your teeth healthy. If tooth decay is detected your tooth can look as good as new using modern metal free materials.

Midnight snackers living in the Bucks County area please contact Dr. Beth Snyder today at 215-348-9922 to schedule a consultation and discuss ways to keep your teeth and gums healthy for life.

I have a suggestion for you that can reduce your risk of heart disease and keep your smile beautiful as well — just get your teeth cleaned. 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.

Once your teeth are squeaky clean is a good time to brighten them up! Dental bleaching works best if teeth are clean and a whiter, brighter smile is a good way to start any New Year right. For more information or to schedule your next visit please contactDr. Beth Snyder at 215-348-9922 today.

This condition is known as bruxism and has several causes. Some bruxism starts with stress or anxiety, for others it may be a sign of an underlying sleep disorder and for many it is a symptom of  a jaw joint or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).

The clenching and grinding  typically occurs during sleep and most people do not know they are grinding. More than half of adults grind or clench occasionally but even children suffer from bruxism. Obvious side effects of grinding are severe headache, often misdiagnosed as migraines, worn and broken teeth, clicking in the jaw and severe neck and facial pain.

Treatment for TMJ disorders may include a custom orthotic device that protects the teeth and jaw muscles while sleeping. An experience neuromuscular dentist can diagnose and suggest appropriate treatment for bruxism and TMJ disorders.

Bruxism can occur at any age. College students with their high levels of stress, poor eating and bad sleep habits are perfect candidates. Please contact Doylestown, PA neuromuscular dentist Dr. Beth Snyder at 215-348-9922 today to schedule a consultation for your student.

All of these things can cause problems with the health of our teeth and gums. Keep everyone in your family healthy through the new year by following some simple rules:

• Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands (with soap)
• After eating sweets or drinking sodas or alcohol remember to rinse with water and then brush your teeth. If you can’t brush right away then chew some sugarless gum to clean your teeth.
• Watch your stress levels, if you feel jaw pain or headaches you may be clenching or grinding your teeth. Take a walk or meditate to relieve some of the stress.
• Accidents happen. If a tooth is chipped it can easily be repaired. If a tooth is knocked out DON”T wash it off, keep it moist by placing it back in the mouth if possible or put in milk until you get to the dentist. A tooth will remain viable for a short time so don’t delay.
• Relax, have fun and enjoy your time with family and friends. Smile a lot and laugh even more. Smiling, laughing and time with loved ones has positive effects on your health.

Here’s hoping your holiday season surprises you with joy in unexpected places. Dr. Beth Snyder and Team.