Craniofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Center of Virginia

Untreated sleep apnea leads to depression and worsening of ADHD

Wed, 06 Dec 2017 17:46:00 GMT

You may think that snoring or sleep apnea should not be at the top of your treatment list. However, it is important to make the treatment of your sleep apnea a top priority. Why? Let’s take a look at 5 negative effects that sleep apnea can have on your oral and overall health when treatment is not attempted.

A Depression Link. Depression is not something that should be ignored, nor should people think it would simply go away with time. The relationship between sleep and depression is complex, but it is very apparent. It has been shown that depression may cause sleep problems and sleep problems may cause or contribute to depression.

For some people depression symptoms occur before the onset of sleep complications, but for others sleep problems appear first. Either way, sleep problems are associated with more severe depression.

The Worsening of ADHD. Not everyone with sleep apnea has ADHD, just like not everyone with ADHD has sleep apnea, but it can be possible. Large tonsils and adenoids can partially block the airway at night, which can cause snoring and poor sleep. In turn that may lead to attention problems during the day, as well as daytime sleepiness.

Untreated sleep apnea may also be responsible for poor performance in everyday activities, such as at work and school, motor vehicle crashes, and academic underachievement in children and adolescents. So, at the end of the day, if you suffer from sleep apnea or are experiencing symptoms that you believe are indicators of sleep apnea, it is important to seek treatment immediately.

Contact our Warrenton dentist, Dr. Bonnie Foster, to learn more about sleep apnea and how untreated sleep apnea can be detrimental to your health.

Who is at risk for TMD?

Wed, 06 Dec 2017 17:35:00 GMT

Being at risk for temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) increases your likelihood of developing this condition. It is possible to develop TMD with or without the risk factors, but if you do have a number of those listed, it is important to ask your dentist what you might be able to do to reduce your risk. Some of the risk factors of TMD might include the following:

People that are stressed

If you’re under a lot of stress in your life, you may have an increased risk of TMD. Some of the stress-related habits that may increase your risk of TMD include habitually clenching and unclenching your jaw, grinding your teeth during the day and/or night in your sleep, or constantly chewing things, such as gum or ice.

People with certain medical conditions

There are various medical conditions that can also increase your risk of TMD, including misaligned teeth or bite, jaw or facial deformities, arthritic conditions and history of jaw or facial injuries.

Women

While both men and women may suffer from TMD, women account for 90 percent of those that seek treatment. Research continues to be completed to determine a possible connection between hormones and TMD, indicated sometimes that men and women process pain signals differently.

People over the age of 30

Age can also play a factor in a person’s risk for developing TMD. Individuals with TMD are most likely to be between the ages of 30 and 50 years of age. This does not always mean a person will develop TMD, but they are more likely.

People experiencing injury

Trauma or injury to the jaw area can translate to long-term issues. TMD may develop if an injury causes dislocation of the jaw joint or movement of the disc and if muscles of opening and closing the jaw are weakened or strained, among other complicating jaw conditions.

Contact our Warrenton dentist, Dr. Bonnie Foster, if you fall into any of the categories above to see if you suffer from TMD.

What are the Different Types of Sleep Apnea?

Tue, 28 Nov 2017 17:33:00 GMT

From snoring to pauses in breathing, sleep apnea should not be taken lightly—in fact, you should receive proper treatment immediately. As with other diseases and conditions, there are different types of sleep apnea you might be suffering from. For this reason, it is important to understand each type in order to better understand your specific condition for proper diagnosis.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) : Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of sleep apnea. It occurs when the soft tissue in the back of the throat relaxes during sleep and blocks the airway. This often causes you to snore loudly—we know how disruptive that can be!

Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) : Central sleep apnea is a much less common type of sleep apnea that involves the central nervous system. It occurs when the brain fails to signal the muscles that control breathing. If you suffer from central sleep apnea it is likely that you seldom snore.

Complex Sleep Apnea : Complex sleep apnea is a combination of obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. It is a form of sleep apnea in which central apneas persist or emerge during attempts to treat obstructive events with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bi-level device.

What are the Stages of Sleep Apnea?

In addition to the types of sleep apnea, there are also three stages that occur as well:

Contact our Warrenton dentist, Dr. Bonnie Foster, to gain a better understanding of your specific sleep apnea type and how treatment can help to improve your symptoms.

Migraines Might be linked to TMD and Arthritis

Mon, 27 Nov 2017 17:44:00 GMT

If you are experiencing an extremely painful headache, it might be a migraine. However, while migraines might be annoying and difficult to deal with, they don’t typically cause any serious complications. With a new study, migraines were determined to be an early sign of arthritis in the jaw.

What is the Connection?

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is based in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which connects the jaw to the skull on either side of the face. With about one-third of the adult population suffering from TMD to some degree, it can trigger a variety of symptoms, including:

With the development of TMD, many people can experience increased severity and frequency of migraines. In this study, it showed that patients with chronic migraines occurring on more than 15 days out of the month, are three times more likely to report more severe symptoms.

For about 75 percent of those that suffer from frequent migraines, treatment for TMD provides relief, but other people might also experience more serious complications, such as teeth clenching or grinding, injury, infection or connective tissue disease. And in rare cases, it can lead to degenerative joint disease or arthritis. On the opposite side of the spectrum, having arthritis initially, it can raise your risk of developing TMD.

Contact our Warrenton dentist, Dr. Bonnie Foster, to learn more about your options for treatment of TMD and how it might be linked with arthritis.

Is Your TMD Caused by Stress?

Thu, 16 Nov 2017 17:32:00 GMT

Maybe you’ve been trying to find the root cause for your TMD but are coming up short. For many, stress is the culprit. It affects almost everyone at some point in their lives. In fact, about 77 percent of people in the United States have reported that they experienced physical symptoms due to stress. Let’s take a look at how you can combat stress to help alleviate your TMD symptoms.

Adopt Awareness . If you are feeling stressed, take a moment to check and see if you’re carrying tension in your jaw. You might even notice that you are grinding your teeth. If so, it’s important to be able to pinpoint these moments throughout the day. The more you can make yourself aware of the situation, the faster you’ll be able to stop yourself from clenching and grinding when you feel anxious. When this happens, loosen your jaw and massage the muscles.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep. You should be getting at least eight hours of sleep a night in order to feel fully rested the next day. Having trouble sleeping? Make sure that electronic devices, caffeine or afternoon naps aren’t to blame. Keep your room at a comfortable temperature and leave distractions out of the bedroom for a restful sleep.

Eat Right. Your diet and stress are closely linked, and oftentimes we don’t eat healthy when we have an impending deadline or a long workday. It’s sometimes faster just to run to the vending machine for a sugary snack than it is to pack something healthy. However, try to plan ahead before you leave for work. Be sure to stock up on fruits, vegetables and foods rich in omega-3s, which have been shown to reduce stress. Plus, you won’t have to worry about the sudden energy zap that often accompanies chowing down on a candy bar.

Exercise Regularly. Exercise is anything that gets the blood flowing, which triggers endorphins. Take a quick jaunt around the office or take a quick walk during your lunch break. You wouldn’t believe how just a little bit of movement throughout the day can instantly brighten a stressed mood.

Have any other tips for how you deal with stress? If so, we would love to hear them. If you’re currently dealing with TMD and need relief from your symptoms, contact Dr. Bonnie Foster, our dentist in Warrenton.

Make lifestyle changes to improve sleep apnea symptoms

Wed, 15 Nov 2017 17:41:00 GMT

In addition to sleep apnea treatments it is also important to make lifestyle changes. Through these changes, you can improve your sleep and eliminate your symptoms of sleep apnea—it’s a win/win for your health and your sleep! Here are three lifestyle changes you should start making immediately.

Quit Smoking. We have all been told that smoking is harmful to your overall health. But did you know it could be leading to your sleep apnea? If you quit smoking, you not only can potentially improve your health, but your sleep apnea as well. Quitting may be difficult, but the end result is worth it. Protect your health and improve your sleep by quitting today!

Lose Weight, Exercise More. These two go hand-in-hand. One of the leading causes of sleep apnea is obesity. Due to being overweight, your airway can become blocked. By losing weight you can improve your sleep and eliminate your symptoms, while also improving your overall health. To lose weight it is important to get regular exercise, even if that means only 30 minutes a day. Through exercise you can improve your health while getting a better night’s sleep.

Eliminate or Minimize Alcohol. While you may enjoy winding down after a difficult day with a beer or wine, it is important to understand that excessive drinking can be detrimental to your health and sleep. Minimize your alcohol intake or stop completely to further improve your health and sleep.

Contact our Warrenton dentist, Dr. Bonnie Foster, to learn more about what lifestyle changes you can make to improve your health and sleep. By treating sleep apnea and making lifestyle changes, you can get a better night’s sleep while improving your overall health.

TMD Could be Interrupting Your Sleep

Fri, 10 Nov 2017 17:41:00 GMT

It has also been shown that those who suffer from sleep disorders might also be suffering from a problem directly related to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders (TMD). A disorder in the TMJ can cause pain and discomfort in other parts of the body and symptoms, such as sleep apnea, teeth grinding and tension headaches or migraines. And, when this occurs, it can negatively impact a good night’s sleep.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Studies continue to be conducted showcasing the connection between TMD and sleep disturbances. In many cases, a misaligned jaw joint, or TMJD, is actually to blame for sleep apnea. This is because the tongue’s position is impacted by the alignment of the upper and lower teeth, so when the teeth are misaligned, the tongue can block the airway as you sleep. When this problem occurs, it can cause a person to wake up frequently throughout the night.

What is Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)?

Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is also another symptoms of TMD. With a misalignment of the jaw, many people will unconsciously grind or clench their teeth together. As a result, bruxism causes significant damage to your teeth and is something that can be easily corrected with proper care. Due to the force of the jaw, people with severe bruxism can break their dental fillings and/or cause the outer layers of their tooth enamel to wear away, which then exposes the highly sensitive dentin. This extreme jaw muscle tension can also result in complications, such as lockjaw and tension headaches.

Relief from TMD

TMD can potentially be causing your sleep problems. If this is the case, try some of these tips at home:
● Gently stretch your neck throughout the day
● Pay attention to, and improve your posture
● Avoid chewing gum
● Gently massage your jaw muscles
● Commit to a soft diet

While these exercises might help, if your jaws are not properly aligned, it is important to get help. Headaches can become a nuisance but can eventually become incapacitating, making treatment vital for proper daily function.
Contact our Warrenton dentist, Dr. Bonnie Foster, to learn more about TMD and how it might be affecting your sleep.

A Lesson in Sleep Apnea

Fri, 10 Nov 2017 17:32:00 GMT

Sleep apnea has been observed since ancient times and, while a treatment or cause was not clear, people were still aware of this condition. In the late 19th century, the term “Pickwickian syndrome” was created to describe symptoms of sleep apnea. Unfortunately, the research mainly concentrated on the patient’s obesity rather than the disordered breathing experienced during sleep. In 1965, the first polysomnograph recorded apneas during sleep. Further research determined that obesity was not essential for sleep apnea, but there were other comorbidities associated with it.

The First Sleep Clinic

Sleep apnea research continued and the first sleep clinic was created at Stanford University in California in 1970 by William Dement. Two years later, Christian Guilleminault joined the clinic and concentrated on respiratory disorders during sleep. As the years went on, research on sleep apnea continued to improve as more medical professionals grew interested in sleep disordered breathing.

Between 1975 and 1980, there were 319 articles on sleep apnea appearing in medical literature. This increase in awareness would pave the way for advanced treatment options to successfully help patients get a better night’s sleep.

Sleep apnea continues to expand as more and more medical fields continue to explore causes, symptoms and treatment options. To learn more about sleep apnea and its history, contact our Warrenton dentist, Dr. Bonnie Foster.

Think Twice Before Chewing Gum

Wed, 06 Sep 2017 16:19:00 GMT

If you chew gum and suffer from headaches or jaw pain, you might want to think twice before you pick up that new pack of gum. A person suffering from temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) might find it painful to chew gum while others will gladly chew it on a daily basis.

In a study of 30 daily gum chewers between the ages of 6 and 19, each suffered from chronic migraines or tension headaches and jaw pain. After eliminating the usage of gum, 19 of the 30 gum chewers had their headache and jaw pain go away completely while another seven had a reduction in headache frequency and severity. When 26 of them began to chew gum again, they only felt their pain return.

Before you reach for another stick of gum, consider these side effects:

Junk Food Increase

The more gum you chew, the more unhealthy foods you might find yourself eating. And, when you eat junk food, the more weight you may gain, which can then lead to further complications, such as sleep apnea. Research even shows that people who chewed gum are less likely to eat fruit, but went straight to the potato chips or candy. Why is this? Because the minty flavor of the gum might make fruits and vegetables taste bitter, so they tend to avoid them.

Development of TMD Pain

Chewing gum often causes jaw muscle imbalance, especially if you chew on one side more than the other. Because of this, it can cause the development of temporomandibular joint disorder in your jaw, which can be extremely painful. Anytime there is an overuse of certain muscles, it can lead to contracted muscles and related pain, including headaches, earaches, and even toothaches over time. If this pain or misuse of muscles is not properly regulated, the stress can lead to strong facial pain or extreme discomfort in the back of the neck.

For many people, the initial cause of TMD is unknown. Stress, a poor diet, lack of sleep, and bad posture are all factors that can make TMJ symptoms worse. Similarly, the constant long-term usage of chewing gum can be an aggravating factor for TMJ pain, and facial pain and disorders.

Contact Dr. Bonnie Foster, our dentist in Warrenton, VA, to learn more about TMD and how chewing gum might lead to further pain and complications.

Sleep Apnea Sufferers need to be Aware of More Health Concerns

Fri, 01 Sep 2017 16:16:00 GMT

We all know sleep is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. However, sleep conditions, such as sleep apnea, can hinder a person’s ability to sleep and their quality of sleep. When this occurs, other severe health conditions can arise. We’ve discussed a few before, but let’s take a look at some other conditions:

High Blood Pressure

Here are some numbers for you to keep in mind. Approximately 30-40% of people with high blood pressure, and up to 85% of those with treatment-resistant high blood pressure, have sleep apnea. With those numbers, why wouldn’t you seek treatment? Research even shows that patients who receive treatment with oral appliance therapy for their sleep apnea experience reduced blood pressure.

Depression

It has been found that men with sleep apnea are more than twice as likely to exhibit signs of clinical depression. Women, too, were five times more likely to report symptoms of major depression. Wow! With those high numbers, it is important to not only get diagnosed with sleep apnea, but to receive proper treatment as well. The longer you put it off, the worse your symptoms can be.

Diabetes

Up to 83% of people with type 2 diabetes suffer from sleep apnea. However, they are not aware they even have sleep apnea! As the severity of sleep apnea continues to increase, glucose control within the body begins to weaken. As a result of diabetes, many people are obese, which is also the number one cause of sleep apnea. When sleep apnea is treated, it can help a person lose weight and improve their diabetes.

If you suspect you or a loved one is suffering from sleep apnea and could be at risk for a health complication, contact Dr. Bonnie Foster, our Warrenton dentist, for more information. With proper screening and treatment, you can take steps toward improving your health and sleep apnea.

Your Sleep Position Can Make All the Difference

Fri, 01 Sep 2017 15:13:00 GMT

By understanding different sleep positions, you can better understand how to improve your sleep patterns because your position when you sleep directly affects your quality of sleep. Let’s take a look at the best and worst positions for sleeping—you may second-guess how you sleep. Let’s start with the worst positions to avoid before we take a closer look at positions that might be the best.

Avoid the Worst Positions

There really is not a “worst” position (technically) because we each sleep differently. For one person sleeping on the back might be the best, while another might be a side sleeper. To determine the best and worst position for you, simply sleep. Yes, that’s right—sleep.

However, if you snore or suffer from sleep apnea, back sleeping is a big no-no. By sleeping on your back you may obstruct your airway, so try to sleep on your side to open your airway up again. An oral appliance will help with this as well.

Choose the Best Position

Suffering from sleep apnea means that side sleeping may be the best choice because it helps keep your airways open. Research suggests that sleeping on your left side can relieve heartburn symptoms, while right side sleeping makes them worse.

To help determine the best sleep position for your individual needs, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Contact Dr. Bonnie Foster to learn more about sleeping positions and sleep apnea in Warrenton, VA.

Sleep Apnea is bad for Your Health

Thu, 24 Aug 2017 15:09:00 GMT

It’s true that sleep apnea has negative consequences on your overall health. In fact, a lack of sleep can lead to exhaustion and crankiness, but long-term sleep disruption can lead to serious health conditions, too. Approximately 25 million adults in the United States suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (according to the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine), which is why it is important to seek treatment immediately. Some health complications associated with sleep apnea include the following:

Heart Disease

A common affliction for those with sleep apnea is heart disease. Those who suffer from heart disease as a result from sleep apnea may have an increased chance of dying by as much as five times the amount of those without sleep apnea. And, as one of the leading causes of death in the country, heart disease can easily be prevented.

Depression

Yes, sleep apnea can even lead to depression. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that women who are suffering from untreated sleep apnea have a five times greater risk for symptoms of depression. On the other hand, men who have untreated sleep apnea are more than twice as likely to exhibit signs of clinical depression.

Diabetes

As you may know, obesity is the leading cause of sleep apnea, as well as diabetes. Put the two together and your risk goes higher for each. According to research by “Frontiers in Neurology”, up to 83% of Type 2 diabetes patients have sleep apnea and may not have even been aware they had it. When a patient is unaware, it hinders their ability to receive proper treatment, and that means you need to be aware of the signs and symptoms to further educate yourself and your loved ones.

By getting screened for sleep apnea, you’re on the right track toward improving your overall health too. Contact Dr. Bonnie Foster in Warrenton, VA to learn more about sleep apnea and how you can protect yourself from further health complications.

Improving Your Sleep can help You Lose Weight

Sun, 20 Aug 2017 15:33:00 GMT

It’s important to note that sleep matters because if you don’t get enough, it can cause weight gain. Due to the production of excessive amounts of Ghrelin (an appetite-stimulating hormone) and insufficient amounts of Leptin (an appetite-suppressing hormone), we find ourselves gaining more weight than ever before. Let’s take a look at sleeping well and losing weight.

The Importance of Sleep

Not only do you produce more appetite-stimulating hormones and less appetite-suppressing hormones, you will also find you are fatigued and less active. When this occurs, you might turn to that “couch potato” lifestyle of watching TV and lying around all day. While this can be relaxing, if you do it often, it could cause you to gain more weight, as it provides more time and opportunity to eat.

Additionally, with a lack of sleep due to sleep apnea, you can continue to remain overweight while experiencing a hard time losing weight. Several studies have been conducted to show the correlation between weight and sleep. By seeking proper treatment, you can not only get a better night’s sleep, but you can also begin to lose weight.

Weight is linked to Sleep Apnea

The biggest factor in sleep apnea is your weight. Weight gain typically causes sleep apnea, not the other way around. Extra weight means more fat in the throat area, which obstructs breathing. And when obesity occurs, sleep apnea can only worsen it, leaving a person chronically sleep-deprived, adding to weight. If you put on more pounds, it can continue to worsen your sleep apnea symptoms.

What’s next?

Losing weight can help improve and even reverse sleep apnea. So, guess what? Let’s start losing weight! Losing about 10 percent of excess weight can lower sleep apnea severity by at least 30%. This can result in fewer apnea events throughout the night. And, getting your sleep apnea under control can help you shed some extra pounds, too.

For more information on sleep apnea and weight loss, please contact Dr. Bonnie Foster, our dentist in Warrenton.

The Warning Signs of Sleep Apnea

Sun, 20 Aug 2017 15:05:00 GMT

Over 25 million people suffer from sleep apnea, which means it is important to understand the risk factors involved. While sleep apnea is a deadly disease, it is a highly preventable one when proper treatment is completed. To help you better understand sleep apnea, let’s take a look at the warning signs and who is at risk:

Overweight Individuals

The population most at risk for experiencing sleep apnea is overweight individuals. This is due to excess tissue that places pressure on the airway. More than half of those with sleep apnea are classified as overweight. And this is an issue we need to start tackling faster than ever. The risk of developing sleep apnea significantly increases with increased weight, age and those with diabetes. This is also the case for smokers, too.

Gender and Race

Your gender also says a lot about sleep apnea and your chances of developing this condition. It is more common for men than women to develop sleep apnea. Additionally, sleep apnea is more common among African Americans, Hispanics and Pacific Islanders than Caucasians.

Constricted Shape of Nose, Mouth or Throat

Take a look at the shape and size of your features, such as your nose, mouth or neck. If you have a constricted shape or small size nose, mouth or throat, you might have a greater chance for developing sleep apnea. Allergies and other medical conditions can also cause features along the airway to restrict the flow of oxygen, further worsening sleep apnea.

Understanding the risks and warning signs of sleep apnea can help you find the right form of treatment before further complications arise. Contact Dr. Bonnie Foster to find out if you have sleep apnea.

Is Jaw Pain Preventing You from Enjoying Your Summer Barbeques?

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 16:11:00 GMT

With the summer season almost over, are you missing out on eating your favorite juicy steak or burger? If so, that’s no fun at all! Summer is about grilling and enjoying your favorite foods on the grill, but if you can’t eat burgers, steak, corn on the cob, or other foods due to jaw pain, what fun is that?

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is a steak, hamburger or corn on the cob lover’s nightmare because it makes eating hard or chewy foods extremely difficult. Symptoms including headaches, pain with chewing, locking, clicking and jaw pain, interfere with the motion of the jaw and daily life in general.

TMD and Jaw Complications

Headaches associated with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)are generally one-sided headaches that occur just in the front of the opening of the ear. From there it spreads and can be very debilitating. The pain worsens with chewing and is sometimes aided with heat or ice, as well as resting the jaw.

There are two types of TMD that can complicate your BBQ eating:

TMD Treatment Opportunities

For relief of myofascial TMD pain, it is important to treat the muscle by first identifying the amount of motion available in the jaw. This begins with massage, intraoral massage, and gentle therapeutic exercise designed for the jaw. The most effective treatment for myofascial TMD is intraoral massage.

Next, treatment for discogenic TMD often includes the creation of a night splint by a dentist. This form of treatment can be very effective for relief of pain. It allows the joint to settle into its normal anatomic position and to relax the surrounding musculature. A night splint fabricated by our office can be extremely effective in relieving the pain of TMD.

Contact Dr. Bonnie Foster to learn more about TMD in Warrenton, and how you can enjoy the rest of your summer without missing another barbeque.

4 Types of Headaches You Never Knew Existed

Sat, 05 Aug 2017 15:05:00 GMT

While headaches definitely are not fun, it might be worth your time to try to think about what type of headache you might be experiencing. All headaches are not the same, so don’t lump them all in one description. You might have heard about tension headaches, migraines, and cluster headaches, but did you know there are other types? Here are four headaches you might not be aware existed.

Yes, depression headaches are a thing and you should not ignore it. Depression isn’t just an emotional and mental issue. When a person suffers from chronic depression, their body might also respond with aches and pains, even leading to headaches. To treat both your depression and headache, it is important to visit your doctor. With a proper diagnosis, your doctor can provide you with an appropriate treatment plan for both your headache and depression symptoms.

Taking too many medications to cure your headache can lead to further headaches. By routinely taking certain medication you might think you are preventing headaches, but that is not the case. Medications most commonly associated with rebound headaches include:

If any of these medications have been overused, the best source of action is to discontinue using it. It might take approximately 8-12 weeks before the medication has completely cleared your system, which means a more structured approach to headache treatment and prevention can then be pursued.

This type of headache is a generalized or “hair band” headache, which is usually worse in the morning. It slowly goes away as the day goes on, but that doesn’t mean it is any less painful or irritating. Make sure to get your blood pressure checked regularly and take prescribed blood pressure medicine to prevent these from occurring.

Post-Traumatic Headaches

It’s easy to confuse post traumatic headaches with migraines or tension headaches. However, these differ because they often occur every day and a simple pain reliever, such as Tylenol, does not help. Pain often begins aver a minor trauma, but it is difficult for doctors to pinpoint the cause and properly diagnose it. The best way to overcome your headache is to prevent a buildup of stress caused by trauma.

Contact our Warrenton dentist, Dr. Bonnie Foster, to learn more about headaches and how to minimize your pain.

Why Should You Visit Your Dentist for Sleep Apnea and Snoring?

Fri, 14 Jul 2017 18:25:00 GMT

If you are suffering from snoring or sleep apnea in Warrenton, VA, what do you often do first? You might contact your physician or an ENT specialist. While this might seem like the best line of defense, you’re actually skipping a key person: Your dentist. Because your dentist provides care for you at least twice a year, it places them in a unique position to help treat your sleep apnea and snoring.

What are the Oral Origins?

Snoring and sleep apnea are both caused by a collapse of the upper airway when the muscles relax during sleep, causing you to stop breathing during the night. The largest muscle, and the most likely culprit for the collapse of the airway is the tongue, which is much larger than most people realize. The tongue is present in the mouth but it also extends down the throat and beyond throughout most of the length of the collapsible upper airway.

What is the Dentist’s Role?

Dr. Bonnie Foster, our dentist in Warrenton, VA, has maintained advanced training in oral appliance therapy for the treatment of sleep apnea. Through this, she can provide you with a custom-fit FDA-approved dental device to help control the collapsing of the tongue into the airway. An oral appliance allows you to stop snoring, and sleep and breathe easier throughout the night—waking up refreshed and ready to take on the day.

Additionally, the availability of oral appliance therapy helps to prevent the collapse of the tongue into the airway by moving the jaw forward, allowing air to flow from the mouth to the lungs so you can breathe properly. By opening the airway with an oral appliance, snoring and sleep apnea is decreased. The availability of oral appliance therapy poses as a less invasive and more predictable solution as opposed to surgery.

Contact us to learn more about why you should visit Dr. Bonnie Foster in Warrenton for sleep apnea treatment with oral appliance therapy.

Women are at a High Risk for Developing TMJ Disorders

Wed, 12 Jul 2017 18:14:00 GMT

Did you know that women are more likely to develop temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders (TMD) than any other individual? As a woman, you might be more prone to developing this disorder, but there are ways for you to prevent it from occurring. Let’s take a closer look.

Women and TMD

Pain affects everyone differently—headaches and facial pain are commonly caused by problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), affecting more women than men. Women who have facial pain, migraines and neck pain due to their TMJ problems may spend years seeking a diagnosis, but never getting the right one. Dr. Bonnie Foster, our dentist in Warrenton, works with her patients to find the cause to your pain and provides the best treatment available for TMJ problems.

If you experience frequent headaches, feel pain in your jaw, neck or upper back, hear a clicking noise in your jaw or your ears feel stuffy, you may be suffering from a TMJ disorder (TMD). Appropriate treatment from Dr. Foster can help to relieve your pain without a lifetime of pills.

While women tend to experience TMJ pain more often than men, many men still suffer from TMD, but will often ignore their symptoms. TMJ pain is real and it can be debilitating. By scheduling a consultation with Dr. Foster, you can take the next steps toward a pain free life. Please contact Dr. Bonnie Foster in Warrenton for TMD care and to learn more about combatting your pain.

TMD is More Than Just Pain in the Jaw

Fri, 07 Jul 2017 18:23:00 GMT

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders (TMD) are commonly associated with pain in the jaw. And, while jaw pain is one of the main symptoms of TMD, it is also important to understand there is other pain associated with this condition.

Dr. Bonnie Foster, our Warrenton, VA dentist, is available to work with you to find the cause of your pain—whether it is jaw, ear or sinus related. Let’s take a closer look at ear and sinus pain as they relate to TMD in Warrenton.

The Connection With Your Ears

Other than when you were a child, you may not have experienced pain in your ear—or at least enough to notice it. However, ear problems are also linked with your TMJ disorder. If you are suffering from TMD, ear pain and other symptoms is very common and predictable.

The muscle that determines the size of the Eustachian tube (ear pressure) directly influences the same nerve that serves the jaw muscles and TMJ. As a result, you might experience ear pain due to the changes in the way the Eustachian tube affects the ear.

The Connection With Your Sinuses

When you suffer from TMD, you can also experience pain in your sinuses. Sinus symptoms can often be mistaken for the common cold, sinusitis and other infections. If you suffer from TMD, you might experience pain and pressure in your sinuses, even though there is no presence of sinus disease, infection or inflammation. This happens because of mechanisms of referral, which means the site of the symptoms is not the origin of it.

Your jaw muscles can also refer pain to the sinus region, making a diagnosis difficult. Muscles that are tight, inflamed, and fatigued due to overuse behaviors and sleep bruxism commonly lead to sinus pain. As a result, TMD therapy that reduces muscle problems can help provide relief of the sinus symptoms. You can also try jaw exercises, jaw muscle conditioning, massage, bite plates, and injection therapy to help relax your tense, overworked muscles to find relief from your sinus pain.

Visit Dr. Bonnie Foster for more information on TMD in Warrenton and to determine if this condition is the source to your pain.

Going to Bed Later Can Mean Weight Gain

Wed, 05 Jul 2017 18:12:00 GMT

What time do you typically go to bed at? Is it later than 9 pm, or even midnight? Do you find yourself sleeping in later and even eating later, too? If you do, then you might be at a significant risk for weight gain (yikes!).

Late sleepers consumed about 248 calories a day, mainly at dinner and later in the evening. In fact, these individuals ate half as many fruits and vegetables, twice the amount of fast food and even drank more full-calorie sodas than those who had earlier bed times.

Why the Weight Gain?

By consuming extra daily calories, it can mean a significant increase in weight gain. With almost two pounds extra a month, people are shown to gain more weight than expected when exercise is also not included. In a study from Northwestern Medicine, 51 participants were followed—23 were late sleepers and 28 were normal sleepers with the average age of 30 years old.

The late sleepers went to sleep at an average time of 3:45 a.m. and woke up by 10:45 a.m. and ate breakfast at noon, lunch at 2:30 pm, dinner at 8:15 pm and a final meal at 10 pm. Normal sleepers on average were up by 8:00 am, ate breakfast by 9 am, lunch at 1 pm, dinner at 7 pm, a last snack at 8:30 pm and were asleep by 12:30 am.

Not only was the number of calories consumed each day key in weight gain, but so was the timing. For those who ate after 8:00 pm, they were more likely to have a higher BMI, even after controlling for sleep timing and duration. These findings were relevant to people who are not very successful in losing weight.

It’s Time to Lose Weight

In order to maintain your health, it is important to lose weight—this is especially true if you currently suffer from sleep apnea in Warrenton. Remember to tailor your weight loss plans to your current health needs, medications and lifestyle.

If you are also experiencing joint pain and inability to move hydrotherapy might work well. By exercising in water it can help make it easier for mobility despite high body mass index, arthritic hips and knees.

Please contact Dr. Bonnie Foster, our dentist in Warrenton, to learn more about sleep apnea, weight loss and how you can take the next steps toward weight loss for health improvement.

A Connection Exists Between Sleep Apnea and Depression

Wed, 28 Jun 2017 18:10:00 GMT

There is a complexity between sleep apnea and depression. While depression can cause an array of sleep problems, the same goes for sleep complications—it can contribute or cause depressive disorders. Dr. Bonnie Foster, your dentist in Warrenton, continues to remain in a unique position to help you improve your health. By treating sleep apnea, we can ultimately help improve your depression. Let’s learn more.

What is the Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Depression?

Sleep-disordered breathing has been linked with depression. This is especially true because insomnia is very common among people that are depressed. It has been suggested that those who suffer from insomnia have 10 times the risk of developing depression compared with those who sleep well.

If you are depressed, you may suffer from a range of insomnia, including:

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is linked with depression because those with depression were found to be five times more likely to suffer from sleep-disordered breathing. With such a high instance of sleep apnea in those with depression, it is important to talk to Dr. Foster to discuss next steps in treatment for sleep apnea in Warrenton.

Diagnosing and Treating Sleep Apnea in Warrenton

But we have good news! By treating sleep apnea, your depression may improve. And, in many cases, because symptoms of depression overlap with symptoms of sleep apnea in Warrenton, there can be a risk for misdiagnosis.

If you are experiencing signs of depression, you should also be screened for sleep apnea by answering questions about the following symptoms:

For more information on sleep apnea in Warrenton, please contact Dr. Bonnie Foster. With proper treatment, we hope to not only provide relief from sleep apnea in Warrenton, but depression as well.

Connecting Sleep Apnea and Heart Failure

Mon, 26 Jun 2017 18:22:00 GMT

Let’s face it; Snoring can be a little annoying, especially for someone listening to it. However, if the snorer repeatedly stops breathing for brief moments, it is often a sign of sleep apnea, which can lead to cardiovascular problems. And, as a result, this can potentially be life threatening. Sleep apnea prevents you from getting restful sleep each night and can be associated with high blood pressure, arrhythmia, stroke and heart failure.

The Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Heart Failure

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in American while stroke is the fourth cause and a leading cause of disability while high blood pressure is a major risk factor for both. If you find yourself waking up exhausted even after a full night’s sleep, visit Dr. Bonnie Foster, our dentist in Warrenton, VA for sleep apnea care. We are available to help you sleep better at night by providing suitable dental treatments, including oral appliances.

The connection between sleep apnea and heart disease continues to evolve at a very rapid pace. Whether sleep apnea actually causes heart disease is still unclear, but we do know that if you have sleep apnea today, the chances of developing hypertension in the future increases significantly—it is best to seek care now.

Evidence remains strong for the relationship between sleep apnea and heart failure, which is why Dr. Foster encourages you to visit our office if you snore or have been diagnosed with sleep apnea. So, when was the last time you woke up well rested? If you can’t remember, now is the time to visit our office in Warrenton, VA for sleep apnea treatment options.

2 Health Conditions You May Not Know are Affected by Sleep Apnea

Wed, 21 Jun 2017 18:22:00 GMT

Sleep apnea causes restless nights of sleep and exhaustion during the day, but did you know it can also affect other areas of your health? It can. Not only does sleep apnea negatively affect your sleep, but also it can play a role in Acid Reflux and Impotence. Let’s take a look at two health conditions that you may not know are affected by sleep apnea.

Many people who suffer from sleep apnea or nasal problems are unaware that they also suffer from reflux. And, many times, you might be experiencing the symptoms, but not knowing what it is. If you suffer from GERD, you might be more likely to experience reflux symptoms during periods of wakefulness at night.

By waking up frequently, your lower esophageal sphincter relaxes and when you are awakened by an apnea episode, the event could trigger your reflux. Through treatment of sleep apnea, you can further decrease the incidence of GERD just as treatment of GERD can decrease your symptoms of sleep apnea.

Waking up exhausted might seem like enough of a problem, but you may have to watch out for something else—impotence (erectile dysfunction). You may be aware that sleep apnea causes fatigue, high blood pressure and weight gain, but research continues to conclude that sleep apnea does also cause erectile dysfunction in men and a loss of libido in women.

Sleep and sexual activity are both an important part of your life, and sleep apnea that goes untreated negatively affects both of these aspects in your life. This means it’s time to get treated for sleep apnea in Warrenton as soon as possible!

Taking the next step in treating your sleep apnea in Warrenton, VA from Dr. Bonnie Foster can help you maintain a healthy, active lifestyle without complications—act now and protect your well-being.

Understanding Sleep Apnea and How to Help

Wed, 21 Jun 2017 18:10:00 GMT

Snoring isn’t something to be overly concerned about, is it? Not necessarily. Loud, frequent snoring may be a sign of sleep apnea, which is a common and potentially serious disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts as you sleep. It is vital that we work to distinguish between snoring and sleep apnea in Warrenton—understanding the difference will make all the difference.

Understanding Snoring

Severe snoring can cause an array of problems, including sleep disturbances for the snorer and other household members as well as walking episodes. Snoring does not always result in sleep apnea, but chronic snoring may indicate an underlying sleep disorder. Left untreated, sleep apnea can increase risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks, diabetes and car accidents due to sleepiness while driving.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a type of breathing disorder, which is a serious, and potentially life-threatening condition characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. There are three types of sleep apnea:

The signs and symptoms of OSA include snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, gasping or choking during the night, non-refreshed sleep, fragmented sleep, clouded memory, irritability, personality changes and morning headaches.

Does your partner or a family member display chronic snoring and pauses in breathing while they sleep? If so, it is important to contact Dr. Bonnie Foster in Warrenton, VA about sleep apnea and your treatment options.

The Sleep Apnea – Acid Reflux Connection

Wed, 10 May 2017 16:39:00 GMT

Sleep apnea is a serious condition that should not be ignored. In fact, sleep apnea can lead to an array of heath conditions that can take a toll on your life. Another health condition that is connected to sleep apnea is acid reflux.

Have you ever felt a burning sensation in your chest that sometimes moves to your throat? Has it prevented you from getting a good night’s rest? By understanding the link between acid reflux (heart burn) and sleep apnea, you can take steps toward improved health care.

What is Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux is a chronic disease that occurs when stomach acid or bile flows into the food pipe and irritates the lining. If you experience acid reflux, or heartburn, more than twice a week, this might indicate GERD.

Symptoms of acid reflux include a burning sensation in the chest that usually occurs after eating and worsens while laying down. You can often find relief from heartburn with lifestyle changes or over-the-counter medications. Unfortunately, though, these options only provide temporary relief.

What is the Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Acid Reflux?

While there is no proof that sleep apnea causes acid reflux or persistent heartburn, it has been shown that people with sleep apnea do complain of acid reflux. As a result, sleep apnea treatment appears to improve acid reflux and vice versa.

The association with sleep apnea and acid reflux is relatively new, but we have been aware of it for some time now. Some of the connections between these two conditions include:

Take the next step in improving your health by treating sleep apnea and acid reflux. In doing so, you can maintain a healthy, active lifestyle without complications.

Obesity: A Leading Cause of Sleep Apnea

Tue, 09 May 2017 17:10:00 GMT

Sleep apnea is a dangerous condition that continues to grow, and a lot of it has to do with the obesity epidemic. The worst part is that not only does obesity have an association with sleep apnea, but sleep apnea tends to cause people to eat more, too. It’s a difficult situation in which each condition can add to the other. So, what’s the solution? Losing weight and seeking treatment.

A Look at the Numbers

The statistics are alarming! According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 65% of Americans are overweight or obese. From 1980 to 1999, the number of obese adults jumped from 15% to 27%. And, in 2000, more than 15% of children ages 6 to 19 years old were overweight, which is three times higher than in 1980. We should wonder, “why are we getting fatter as a nation?” Our levels of physical activity have plummeted, and our caloric intake has increased when it should be declining.

Why Does Obesity Lead to Sleep Apnea?

Obesity is a leading cause and side effect of sleep apnea. By adding on weight, it raises the risk of sleep apnea, while losing weight can help cure sleep apnea. When people are severely overweight, they can fail to breathe rapidly enough or deep enough. When this occurs, it results in low blood oxygen levels and high blood carbon dioxide levels. And when this happens, many people who are obese stop breathing altogether for short periods of time during sleep. In return, extreme strain is placed on the heart, which can lead to symptoms of heart failure.

Lose Weight Now

It is important to take charge of your health and life. Begin making smarter choices to lose weight. Sleep experts suggest the following:

Weighing yourself on a scale isn’t the answer to improving your weight because muscle often weighs more than fat. To find out what your body mass index (BMI) is, visit the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s website.

Contact Dr. Bonnie Foster to learn more about sleep apnea and what steps you can take to begin losing weight.

Alcohol’s Negative Effect on Sleep Apnea

Wed, 03 May 2017 16:36:00 GMT

It’s that time of year again—spring is in the air and summer is right around the corner! With the warm months ahead of us, now is the time to grill out and have a drink with your friends and family, right? During these warm months, people decide to go to the local bars, sit on the patio or rooftop and indulge in some alcohol (maybe even a shot or two). While it might be fun for the day, there are negative effects of the consumption of alcohol on your body.

Alcohol and It’s Effect on Your Sleep

You might be thinking, “Oh I will fall right asleep and have a great night’s sleep after I drink a little.” This might seem like it’s true, but it isn’t. Alcohol has a negative effect on your sleep. Whether you are sleeping after a night of drinking, or even just a couple glasses at home, alcohol can cause:

So, what you should you then when it comes to alcohol and celebrations, or just having a simple drink or two after work?

Stop Drinking Alcohol

A glass of wine or beer after a long day might be enjoyable, but excessive drinking can be detrimental to your health and sleep. Minimize your alcohol intake or stop completely to further improve your health and sleep. It’s a compromise you will need to make to feel better.

Contact Dr. Bonnie Foster in Warrenton, VA to learn more about sleep apnea and the negative effects of alcohol.

4 Signs of Sleep Apnea to Watch Out For

Tue, 02 May 2017 17:07:00 GMT

Oh no, not again! Is your partner complaining about your snoring again? Are they tired of hearing a freight train next to them every night? While snoring can be extremely annoying for your bed partner, it can also be detrimental to your health. Loud snoring might a sign that you are suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). To help you better understand sleep apnea, let’s take a closer look at four obvious signs you won’t want to ignore.

You Wake Up Thirsty

Have you ever woken up and your mouth is as dry as the Sahara Desert? If you wake up every morning (or even throughout the night) and think you just woke up in the middle of Arizona because your mouth is so dry, you might have a more serious condition. A sign of sleep apnea is dry mouth and the need to drink more water. Snoring can cause a dry mouth and a sore throat, so be on the lookout for this.

Morning Headaches

Poor sleep can lead to morning headaches, which can lead to a very unproductive day. Waking up with a headache is never fun, so pay close attention to when these headaches occur. If you suspect your headache is caused by your sleeping condition, it might be time to contact us for further information. Don’t just deal with morning headaches in hopes they will just go away. Reach out and get help.

Sensitive Teeth or a Sore Jaw

While you’re sleeping, you might be clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth. This typically occurs because your body is trying to force enough air through the airway. Pay attention to your jaw and teeth when you wake up, and even throughout the day. Do you feel soreness or sensitivity? It might be time to visit and seek treatment.

Frequent Nighttime Bathroom Breaks

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom? Or maybe even a couple times throughout the night? Interrupted sleep can lead to more frequent urges to use the bathroom. Pay attention to how frequently you are waking up throughout the night. If it is far more than once or twice, it is important to receive a diagnosis.

Contact Dr. Bonnie Foster to learn more about sleep apnea and what to look out for. Your health is important, and so is your sleep.

The Dangerous Combination of Sleep Apnea and Hypertension

Wed, 26 Apr 2017 17:05:00 GMT

Snoring can affect just about anyone—even if you don’t realize you are doing it. While snoring occurs more frequently in men and those who are overweight, snoring tends to worsen with age. And, while occasional snoring is not very serious (and just a nuisance for your bed partner), it can be a risk for serious health problems, such as sleep apnea. What is even worse, is the connection between sleep apnea and high blood pressure.

The Connection

Several studies have shown that sleep apnea and high blood pressure are quite the dangerous team—or should we say rivalries? When sleep apnea and high blood pressure are combined, it increases your risk for a stroke and heart attacks. Treatment of sleep apnea helps in lowering blood pressure. One treatment option might be an oral appliance, which helps to open the airway to encourage proper breathing at nighttime.

Lifestyle changes can also be beneficial for improving sleep apnea symptoms and diminishing hypertension. For example, losing weight if you are overweight, not drinking alcohol, and exercising regularly can all help in preventing the narrowing of your airway when you sleep.

Contact Dr. Bonnie Foster in Warrenton for sleep apnea treatment options in order to prevent hypertension and improve your health.

What’s the Connection Between High Blood Pressure and Sleep Apnea?

Wed, 26 Apr 2017 10:27:00 GMT

High blood pressure and sleep apnea go hand in hand—they’re a dangerous pair. Research suggests that anywhere from 30-50% of people with high blood pressure have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), too. Sleep apnea has been shown to increase a person’s risk for high blood pressure, while high blood pressure can cause sleep apnea or worsen breathing in those already affected by sleep apnea. Also known as the “silent killer,” high blood pressure can lead to further complications.

The Connection

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can contribute to high blood pressure in people who have it due to the frequency of waking up at nighttime. Because of this, hormonal systems go into overdrive, which results in high blood pressure levels. The sudden drops in blood-oxygen levels that occur during sleep apnea episodes increase blood pressure and place a strain on your cardiovascular system.

However, sleep apnea is much more common in patients with resistant hypertension, who have tried a variety of high blood pressure treatment, but can’t seem to get their condition under control. Resistant hypertension is a major public health issue that needs to be addressed. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to serious complications, which means you need to do something about it right away—don’t wait a day longer.

Treating Sleep Apnea

The good news is that treatment of sleep apnea may help in lowering blood pressure levels. With oral appliance therapy, Dr. Foster can help you get a better night’s sleep once again. An oral appliance helps promote normal breathing during sleep by preventing a person’s tongue from falling to the back of their through. Through proper treatment of sleep apnea in Warrenton with an oral appliance, you can experience the benefits of lowered blood pressure levels.

To learn more about sleep apnea and its connection to high blood pressure, contact Dr. Bonnie Foster in Warrenton, VA.

Guard Your Heart and Treat Sleep Apnea

Thu, 20 Apr 2017 17:03:00 GMT

Snoring is an annoying act, especially for the person who listens to it every night—or maybe they’re lucky enough to fall asleep before you and don’t hear it. While snoring is annoying, if the snorer repeatedly stops breathing for brief moments throughout the night, it can lead to heart disease.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea occurs when a person’s breathing pauses every five to 30 minutes per hor or more during sleep. When these episodes of pauses in breathing, the sleeper will wake up because they gasp for air. This prevents restful sleep and is commonly associated with high blood pressure, arrhythmia, stroke and heart failure.

Approximately one in five adults suffer from mild to moderate sleep apnea, with more men suffering from this condition than women. The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in which weight on the upper chest and neck contributes to blocking the flow of air. OSA is associated with obesity, which is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.

The Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Heart Disease

Sleep apnea can lead to heart attacks, which cause people to die in the middle of the night due to low oxygen or the stress of waking up frequently during sleep. As you might know, heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, while stroke takes fourth place for the cause of death and a leading cause of disability—high blood pressure is a major risk in both conditions.

The relationship between sleep apnea, hypertension and cardiovascular disease is very strong, which makes it vital that everyone understand this connection and seek treatment immediately.

Treatment for Sleep Apnea

To help minimize your chances of heart disease, it is important to receive proper treatment for your sleep apnea. While the most common treatment option is CPAP therapy, many people are non-compliant, meaning they can’t deal with the treatment or it is uncomfortable. An improved option for treatment from Dr. Foster is oral appliance therapy. Like a mouth guard in appearance, an oral appliance works to prevent your tongue from falling over your through during sleep. This helps to open the airway and keep you breathing throughout the night.

Contact Dr. Bonnie Foster in Warrenton, VA to learn more about the sleep apnea and heart disease connection. Seeking proper treatment can make all the difference you need to live a healthy life.

Type 2 Diabetes Directly Affects Sleep Apnea

Thu, 20 Apr 2017 16:27:00 GMT

If you have type 2 diabetes, you should also be watching out for sleep apnea. In fact, in a 2013 study it stated that people with type 2 diabetes can have a nearly 50-50 chance of being diagnosed with sleep apnea. Since sleep apnea can worsen diabetes symptoms, it is important to seek treatment right away.

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Approximately 27 million people in the United States currently suffer from type 2 diabetes. And, another 86 million suffering from prediabetes. Diabetes occurs when your pancreas makes insulin, but the cells don’t use it as well as they should—this is insulin resistance. At first, the pancreas makes more insulin to try to get glucose into your cells. However, eventually it can’t keep up and sugar begins to build up in your blood instead.

What is the Connection?

People suffering from Type 2 diabetes will often also suffer from sleep apnea, which can also lead to obesity. As you might know, obesity is another common comorbidity of sleep apnea. In addition to obesity, diabetes and sleep apnea share a long list of other potential complications, including:

While treating sleep apnea is important in getting a good night’s sleep, treatment can also help treat and maybe even eradicate many other diabetic complications.

Seek Treatment for Sleep Apnea

Treating sleep apnea is vital. To help prevent the worsening of symptoms, talk to Dr. Foster about oral appliance therapy. With oral appliance therapy, you can find relief from your sleep apnea symptoms, as well as your type 2 diabetes.

Contact our Warrenton, VA dentist, Dr. Foster, to learn more about the connection between sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes.

Change Your Sleep Position

Wed, 05 Apr 2017 12:09:00 GMT

Have you ever thought about which sleep position is the best for your sleep? Understanding various sleep positions can help you better understand how to improve your sleep patterns. The sleep position you choose, directly affects your quality of sleep. Let’s take a look at the best and worst positions for sleeping.

The Worst Position

For one person, sleeping on the back might be the best, while another might be a side sleeper. To determine the best and worst position for you, simply sleep. Yes, that’s right—sleep. However, if you snore or suffer from sleep apnea, back sleeping is a big no-no. By sleeping on your back you may obstruct your airway, so try to sleep on your side to open your airway back up. An oral appliance will help with this as well.

The Best Position

If you suffer from sleep apnea, side sleeping may be the best choice because it helps keep your airways open. Research suggests that sleeping on your left side can relieve heartburn symptoms, while right side sleeping makes them worse. Remember to go with the flow and allow your body to fall into its intended position. And, yes, your mattress does matter—if it is worn and damaged, you could negatively impact your quality of sleep. No one stays in one position all night—doing so is bad for circulation—and it varies from person to person.

Contact our Warrenton, VA office to learn more about sleep positions and how sleep apnea might be affecting your rest.

Sleep Apnea and Depression: What’s the Connection?

Tue, 04 Apr 2017 12:20:00 GMT

Feeling sad every now and then is a fundamental part of the human experience, but persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, hopelessness and disinterest in things are symptoms of depression. Today, depression affects at least 20 million Americans and it is not something that should be ignored. If you find that you are feeling depressed, take a look at your sleep—it’s essential and should be just as important as nutrition and physical activity for promoting overall health. Through various studies, we can see a clear link between sleep apnea and depression. Let’s take a look…

The Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Depression

You may not think that your sleep reflects on your depression, but it does. When you are depressed, you may experience sleep problems, while sleep problems can also lead to depression. For instance, some people experience symptoms of depression before sleep complications come into place. However, some people experience sleep complications before depression appears. When sleep apnea is present in patients it is associated with more severe depression

Treatment Options

The solution is simple—seek treatment for your sleep apnea or depression right away. By treating your sleep apnea, you can help to not only improve your sleep, but your depression as well. Whether you treat your depression or sleep apnea, the end result will be the same: a better night’s sleep and an improved well-being.

Before beginning treatment for depression or sleep apnea, talk to your physician or visit Dr. Bonnie Foster, our Warrenton dentist, to learn more about any sleep apnea symptoms you might be experiencing. The treatment of depression and sleep apnea can help get your life back on track toward a healthy life.

The Myths and Facts of Sleep Apnea

Wed, 29 Mar 2017 12:06:00 GMT

Are you tired during the day, but are getting the amount of rest you need? If so, you could be suffering from sleep apnea, which is a common disorder that causes frequent disruptions in your breathing, or shallow breaths while you sleep. These pauses can last from a few seconds to several minutes and can occur 30 times or more an hour. To help you better understand sleep apnea, lets take a look at some common myths and facts to help you decide if you or a loved one should see Dr. Bonnie Foster at our Warrenton office for further information.

Myth: People with sleep apnea know they have it because they’re jerked awake when their breathing stops.

Fact: Most people are unaware they have sleep apnea because they are sleeping when symptoms occur. Many people find out their breathing is affected by another who watches them or hears them while they sleep.

Myth: People with sleep apnea know they have it because they’re jerked awake when their breathing stops.

Myth: Sleep apnea is just an impressive word for snoring.

Fact: Snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea. But, it also might be an annoying sound that your bed partner makes throughout the night because the muscles in his or her throat relax too much.

Myth: Only people who are old or overweight get sleep apnea.

Fact: Sleep apnea can affect people of all ages and sizes. However, people who are overweight may be able to reduce symptoms by losing weight.

Myth: Alcohol is a good remedy.

Fact: Alcohol is not the solution. Instead, alcohol relaxes the muscles in the back of the throat, which blocks the airway—sleeping pills have the same effect.

Treatment of sleep apnea can include simple lifestyle changes or oral appliance therapy. An oral appliance is worn during sleep and gently pushes the lower jaw outward to create an unobstructed airway.

If you suffer from sleep apnea and are ready for a good nights sleep, contact Dr. Foster at our Warrenton office today!

The Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Heart Failure

Tue, 28 Mar 2017 12:16:00 GMT

When was the last time you woke up well rested? Has it been a while? We understand that snoring can get a little annoying, especially for someone listening to it. However, if the snorer frequently stops breathing for brief moments throughout the night, it might be a sign of sleep apnea. And, as a result, this can lead to cardiovascular problems that is potentially life threatening.

What is Sleep Apnea?

A person with sleep apnea may experience pauses in breathing five to 30 times per hour or more during sleep. When these episodes occur, a person may not wake up. However, if you do wake up during these episodes, you might gasp for air. As a result, sleep apnea prevents you from getting restful sleep each night and can be associated with:

These are all conditions that are preventable with proper care and lifestyle changes. Without proper treatment, you are opening up the chance for further complications.

The Connection

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in American while stroke is the fourth cause and a leading cause of disability while high blood pressure is a major risk factor for both. The connection between sleep apnea and heart disease is evolving rapidly. Whether sleep apnea actually causes heart disease is still unclear, but we do know if you have sleep apnea today, the chance of developing hypertension in the future increases significantly. With such a strong connection between sleep apnea and heart failure, it is important to visit Dr. Bonnie Foster once you have diagnosed with sleep apnea—she can provide proper treatment that can help prevent further health complications.

Contact our Warrenton, VA office for more information on sleep apnea and how we can help prevent further health complications through the availability of oral appliance therapy.

Improve Your Sleep and Quit Smoking

Wed, 22 Mar 2017 12:03:00 GMT

If you quit smoking it will significantly improve your overall health—especially your lungs. Did you also know that by quitting smoking you might also significantly improve your sleep? You can! Let’s take a closer look at smoking and how it can negatively affect your sleep.

The Negative Effects of Smoking and Sleep

If you compare a smoker to a non-smoker, it has been shown that smokers are three times more likely to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (Wow!). This is because smoking causes an increase of inflammation and fluid retention in the upper airway, which can further aggravate sleep apnea symptoms.

Both smoking and sleep apnea are deadly conditions that can severely shorten your life span when combined. For example, smoking and sleep apnea can both cause cardiovascular and respiratory health problems. This means treatment is vital to your health.

Seek Treatment and Quit Smoking

Smoking makes the swelling in your upper airway worse, which can further aggravate symptoms such as snoring and pauses in breathing (sleep apnea). In order to have successful treatment, you must quit smoking. By quitting your habit of smoking, you are significantly improving your treatment options and the results from treatment. While quitting smoking does not guarantee that your sleep apnea will disappear, it does ensure that treatment will be much more effective.

While it is up to you to quit smoking, we can successfully treat your sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy. Contact us today to learn more about your sleep apnea treatment options and tips for quitting your smoking habit.

What are the Side Effects of Oral Appliance Therapy?

Tue, 21 Mar 2017 12:14:00 GMT

When you seek treatment for your sleep apnea, you can reduce your risk for a variety of health conditions, such as:

Through treatment with oral appliance therapy, you can also experience an improvement in daytime alertness, concentration and emotional stability. With that being said, why wouldn’t you want to get treated? The ease of use and easy transport of oral appliance therapy makes this sleep apnea treatment option a good alternative to CPAP therapy. While oral appliance therapy has a list of benefits, let’s take a look at some of the side effects you might experience.

Potential Side Effects

Just like other treatments, when you first begin treatment with oral appliance therapy, there might be a few side effects. Thankfully, these side effects are nothing to worry about and disappear after continued use. At the beginning of your treatment, oral appliance therapy might cause the following minor side effects:

These are minor side effects, and will go away once you become comfortable with treatment—it’s completely normal.

Other Complications

In rare cases, some patients may experience other complications that can be avoided and fixed with proper communication with Dr. Bonnie Foster, our dentist in Warrenton:

If these occur, it is important to contact Dr. Foster to ensure your treatment is beneficial and successful. While oral appliance therapy might cause some minor side effects, they typically go away after frequent use as you become used to your oral appliance.

Contact our office today to learn more about oral appliance therapy and how we can help you find relief from your sleep apnea symptoms.

Improve Your Understanding of Sleep Apnea

Thu, 16 Mar 2017 17:14:00 GMT

Snoring isn’t anything to worry about, right? Wrong. Frequent, long snoring may be a sign of sleep apnea, which is a common and potentially serious disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts as you sleep. To protect yourself and improve your health, it is important to understand the difference between snoring and sleep apnea.

The Connection is Important

By understanding snoring, sleep apnea and the connection between the two conditions, you can continue to improve your health and rest.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Does your partner snore? Do they frequently gasp for air while they sleep? If so, we encourage you to contact Dr. Bonnie Foster, our dentist in Warrenton, VA, to learn more about sleep apnea. With proper care and treatment planning, you or a loved one can get a better night’s sleep.

A Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Your Weight

Thu, 16 Mar 2017 17:03:00 GMT

Weight loss can significantly improve, and potentially eliminate, obstructive sleep apnea symptoms in obese people. Researchers have found that people with severe obstructive sleep apnea who lost the recommended amount of weight, were three times more likely to experience remission of sleep apnea symptoms compared to those who did not lose any weight.

The Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Obesity

Not everyone with sleep apnea is overweight, but most patients are. Losing weight gets rid of fat that blocks the windpipe. In doing so, it can not only fix your sleep trouble, but can also help with your cholesterol, knees, clothes and overall feeling of yourself. Some people have found that moderate to severe sleep apnea can be completely corrected by losing excess weight. And for others, even a small amount of weight loss can open up the throat and improve sleep apnea symptoms.

After weight loss, if you are still experiencing symptoms of sleep apnea, Dr. Bonnie Foster can work with you to create an appropriate treatment plan, including oral appliance therapy. Schedule a consultation to determine the best treatment option for you. And remember, sleep apnea should never be ignored.

The Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Type 2 Diabetes

Wed, 08 Mar 2017 09:55:00 GMT

Let’s cut to the main point of this blog post: sleep apnea can increase your risk of type 2 diabetes. It’s that to the point. Sleep apnea is a condition where a person’s airway becomes partially or completely blocked during sleep. As a result, breathing will stop and start throughout the night. Approximately 13 percent of men and 6 percent of women suffer from moderate to severe undiagnosed sleep apnea. While the percentages might seem small, it is important that we do not ignore them.

What is the Connection?

The World Health Organization states that approximately one in every 10 adults suffers from diabetes. Of those with diabetes, a majority has type 2 diabetes, which is when the body can’t make or process enough of the insulin hormone. For those who have type 2 diabetes, obesity is an increased risk. In addition, sleep apnea is also an increased risk for obesity and vice versa.

We need to place a high amount of focus in preventing sleep apnea. By screening for diabetes if you have sleep apnea, and screening for sleep apnea if you have diabetes, we can take strides in further protection against both conditions. This also holds true for those who are overweight and physically inactive people.

It is important to be aware of the link between sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes. While ongoing research is still being completed, knowing there is a connection is key to protecting your overall health and well-being. Contact Dr. Bonnie Foster for more information on the connection between sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes, and how we can help.

3 Negative Effects of Not Treating Sleep Apnea

Tue, 07 Mar 2017 09:07:00 GMT

Stop what you’re doing and put sleep apnea and snoring at the top of your list for seeking treatment. Why? Because untreated sleep apnea can lead to further complications with your health. Let’s take a look at 3 negative effects of untreated sleep apnea on your oral and overall health.

High Blood Pressure and Stroke

A sudden drop in blood-oxygen levels occurring during sleep apnea episodes increase blood pressure and places a strain on your cardiovascular system. It is estimated that 50% of people with sleep apnea develop high blood pressure (hypertension), which can play a serious role in heart disease.

Additionally, when the blood supply to part of your brain is interrupted or severely reduced, your brain tissue is deprived of oxygen and nutrients. Within just a few minutes, brain cells begin to die. Through the damage and stress to your blood vessels, it is believed that this is caused by blood pressure and oxygen changes from sleep apnea, which increases your risk of stroke.

Worsening of ADHD

Not everyone with sleep apnea has ADHD, just like not everyone with ADHD has sleep apnea, but it can be possible. Large tonsils and adenoids can partially block the airway at night, which can cause snoring and poor sleep. That, in turn, may lead to attention problems during the day, in addition to daytime sleepiness.

Depression

Depression is not something that should be ignored, nor should people think it would simply go away with time. The relationship between sleep and depression is complex, but it is very apparent. It has been shown that depression may cause sleep problems and sleep problems may cause or contribute to depression. For some people depression symptoms occur before the onset of sleep complications, but for others sleep problems appear first. Either way, sleep problems are associated with more severe depression.

At Craniofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Center of Virginia, we are available to help in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea. Remember, untreated sleep apnea can be detrimental to your health, so contact Dr. Bonnie Foster today to get a better night’s sleep while also improving your overall health and wellbeing.

Are You at Risk for Sleep Apnea?

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 09:50:00 GMT

Stop searching for answers across the Internet—we’ve got some risks to share with you so you don’t have to look any further. As you know, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when breathing pathways through the mouth, nose or throat are collapsed or blocked. These airways are susceptible to blockages, or collapse, as the muscle tone lining these pathways relaxes during sleep. So, who is at risk for sleep apnea? Let’s find out!

You are at Risk If…

Those who are the most at risk for developing sleep apnea are overweight individuals. Due to excess tissue, pressure is placed on the airway. More than half of those with sleep apnea are classified as overweight—an issue we need to tackle now. Your risk for developing sleep apnea significantly increases with increased weight, age and those with diabetes, as well as smokers.

You may also be susceptible to sleep apnea if you have a constricted shape or small size of certain features in the nose, mouth or throat. Allergies and other medical conditions can also cause the features along the airway to restrict the flow of oxygen. On the other hand, sleep apnea is often more common in men than women. It is also more common among African Americans, Hispanics and Pacific Islanders than Caucasians.

Contact Craniofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Center of Virginia for more information and to find out if you have sleep apnea. Together, Dr. Foster and her team of dental professionals can help improve your health.

A Look at Restless Leg Syndrome

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 09:03:00 GMT

Have you ever experienced a sleepless night? Many people who can’t sleep will wonder if they suffer from some sort of sleeping disorder. Occurring in many people, sleep disorders prevent or limit sleep, which can lead to disruptions in daily behavior patterns while hindering a person’s ability to work. Let’s take a closer look at restless leg syndrome.

Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless leg syndrome affects approximately 10% of the U.S. population. It is a sleep disorder that involves the nervous system and causes an urge for a person to move their legs. Since this usually interferes with sleep, it is considered a sleep disorder.

People with restless leg syndrome experience the following symptoms:

Restless leg syndrome often feels like uncomfortable itchy, pins and needle sensations in the legs. These sensations are typically worse while at rest, especially while lying or sitting with symptoms worse in the evening and at night. As a result, the lack of sleep can hinder a person’s day-to-day life.

Contact Craniofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Center of Virginia for more information on restless leg syndrome and other sleep disorders, including sleep apnea. By getting to the bottom of your sleep problems, we can help you get a better night’s sleep.

High Blood Pressure and Sleep Apnea Connection

Thu, 23 Feb 2017 10:00:00 GMT

Sleep apnea can lead to a long list of complications in other conditions (as well as its own condition). To expand on this area of the worsening of conditions, sleep apnea has an inability to regulate blood pressure. Just one bout of sleep apnea can impact your ability to regulate blood pressure—only one instance can lead to high blood pressure. So what happens when it continues to occur? It continues to get worse.

The Connection with Sleep Apnea and Blood Pressure

Sleep apnea can result in frequent periods of decreased oxygen levels in the body. This is known as intermittent hypoxia. Just six hours of fluctuating oxygen levels associate with sleep apnea can deteriorate a person’s circulatory system. We know that sleep apnea is linked to high blood pressure and can impact the cardiovascular system in one day.

As little as only six hours of fluctuating oxygen levels can lead to the body’s inability to regulate blood pressure—imagine what would happen after 8 hours. These changes occur instantly in healthy young adults–it’s not something many can prepare themselves for. For those suffering from sleep apnea, interventions should take place as soon as a diagnosis is found.

Contact Craniofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Center of Virginia for more information on sleep apnea and the steps you can take toward improving your overall health.

There’s a New Link to Your Anxiety: Sleep Apnea

Wed, 22 Feb 2017 09:48:00 GMT

Many of us carry a lot of stress on our shoulders, and a lot of times it means extreme anxiety toward a variety of things. No matter the cause, the stress or anxiety is always a constant, every day factor. Many people think that being tired during the day is a normal part of being stressed, but it isn’t. If you ever feel sleepy throughout the day, it is important to get tested and treated for sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea affects people while they’re sleeping, which can be particularly jarring. Some people have to wear special masks connected to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines to ensure that they breathe normally throughout the night and the threat of breathing problems can cause severe anxiety. In turn, this anxiety may make sleep problems worse and sleep deprivation will continue to contribute to both depression and anxiety. Let’s learn more…

The Sleep Apnea and Anxiety Connection

For people already under tons of stress, you’re missing out on restorative sleep that slows the aging process and improves cognitive function—this just compounds the stress you face during the day. A huge source of anxiety during the day is actually from a feeling of breathlessness they experience at night. If you suffer from sleep apnea, you’re panicked all night long as you gasp for air — unconscious and unaware the entire time, but still paying the emotional price in the form of anxiety during the day.

To get ahead of stress, it is important to wake up feeling positive and optimistic in order to handle the next day’s events. If you are feeling any symptoms of anxiety or are waking up exhausted, it is important to visit a dentist to take the next steps toward diagnosis and proper treatment planning.

Contact Craniofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Center of Virginia to learn more about anxiety and sleep apnea. There continues to be a connection we need to pay close attention to and there are solutions that can help you get the rest you need to feel less stress.

February is American Heart Health Month

Tue, 14 Feb 2017 01:45:00 GMT

We commonly associate February with Valentine’s Day, but did you know it is American Heart Month, too? If you’re looking for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift, why not give the gift of heart health? This is a great time to commit to a healthy lifestyle by making small changes that can lead to a lifetime of heart health.

Heart Disease

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. And, while all Americans are at a risk of heart disease, African American men, especially those who live in the southeast region of the United States, are at the highest risk for heart disease. In addition, 40% of African Americans have high blood pressure, which is also a leading cause of heart disease and stroke.

For this reason, during American Heart Month, we want to encourage you to make a change in your health and start new, heart-healthy behaviors to improve your health, while reducing your risk of heart disease and stroke. Small changes can make all the difference in your health!

A Sleep Apnea Connection

Expanding on the topic of heart health, we also want to point out the connection between sleep apnea and heart disease. Due to low oxygen or the stress of waking up frequently during sleep, many people die in the middle of the night as a result of sleep apnea. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, while stroke is the fourth leading cause of death, and is also a leading cause of disability with high blood pressure being a major risk in both conditions.

Sleep apnea, hypertension and heart disease continue to have a strong connection. Because of this, it is vital that everyone understand how these conditions are connected. Once you understand the importance of these strong connections, you can seek the proper treatment you need.

Make a Change

To not only improve your health, but your heart health, too, here are some helpful tips to follow during the month of February and beyond:

Contact Dr. Bonnie Foster to learn more about how you can further protect your heart health by treating sleep apnea.

Heart Disease and Sleep Apnea: What’s the Connection?

Mon, 13 Feb 2017 09:01:00 GMT

Have you ever woken up to your partner snoring? Or maybe your partner woke you up because YOU were snoring. Either way you look at it, snoring can get a little annoying, especially for someone who has to listen to it. However, snoring stops being annoying when the snorer repeatedly stops breathing for brief moments throughout the night.

As a sign of sleep apnea, snoring can lead to cardiovascular problems, which is potentially life threatening. A person with sleep apnea may experience pauses in breathing five to 30 times per hour or more during sleep.

Sleep Apnea and Heart Disease Connection

When sleep apnea episodes occur, you might not wake up. However, if you do wake up, you might gasp for air. Sleep apnea prevents you from getting a good night’s sleep every night. It can also be associated with high blood pressure, arrhythmia, stroke and heart failure.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America and stroke is the fourth cause. These conditions are the leading cause of disability while high blood pressure is a major risk factor for both. If you find yourself waking up exhausted after a full night’s sleep, contact Dr. Bonnie Foster today. Together we can create a proper treatment plan to help you sleep better at night—suitable oral appliances can help.

Treatment

The connection between sleep apnea and heart disease continues to evolve. Whether sleep apnea actually causes heart disease is still unclear, but we do know that sleep apnea does increase the chance that you will develop hypertension in the future. The evidence is strong for the relationship between sleep apnea and heart disease, so please visit our office for further guidance and help.

A Link Between Sleep Apnea and Weight

Wed, 01 Feb 2017 09:18:00 GMT

We understand there are numerous influencers in the development of sleep apnea. While we might not understand each connection, one thing that is clear is that weight loss can significantly improve the symptoms of sleep apnea. Because obesity is a leading cause of sleep apnea, it is important to exercise and lose weight to protect your overall health.

Weight Loss and Improved Sleep Apnea

Weight loss can significantly improve, and potentially eliminate, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) symptoms in people that are obese. Researchers continue to study the area of sleep apnea, which is how we have learned that people with severe OSA who lost the recommended amount of weight were three times more likely to experience remission of sleep apnea symptoms compared to those who did not lose any weight.

Most patients with sleep apnea are overweight, but that doesn’t mean everyone is obese—only some. By losing weight, you can eliminate fat that blocks the windpipe, and it will not only fix your sleep complications, but can also help with:

It has even been found that moderate to severe sleep apnea can be completely corrected by losing excess weight. And, for others, even a small amount of weight loss can open up the throat and improve sleep apnea symptoms.

Sleep Apnea Treatment

If you have lost weight, but are still experiencing symptoms of sleep apnea, it is important to seek further care. While the weight loss might not have eliminated all of your symptoms, it still helped. Contact Dr. Bonnie Foster at Craniofacial Pain & Dental Sleep Center of Virginia to learn more about why your sleep apnea symptoms might still be present, and what treatment options are available. Through oral appliance therapy, you may finally find relief from your symptoms.

When was the last time you slept through the night, waking up feeling refreshed? Remember, sleep apnea should never be ignored. Dr. Foster at Craniofacial Pain & Dental Sleep Center of Virginia can help provide relief from sleep apnea in Warrenton for many patients.

Sleep Apnea in Warrenton and Your Dentist

Mon, 30 Jan 2017 10:41:00 GMT

Whether you realize it or not, there are many people who suffer from snoring or sleep apnea—that might just be you. People who suffer from snoring, sleep apnea, or both will often visit their family doctor or an ENT specialist for further diagnosis. However, if you do that, you might be skipping a key person in the treatment of sleep apnea. But who is that? Your dentist in Warrenton, Dr. Bonnie Foster! Yes, Dr. Foster can provide you with the information and care you need for sleep apnea in Warrenton.

Begin with Oral Origins

It all begins with your oral health. Snoring and sleep apnea are caused by a collapse of the upper airway when the muscles relax during sleep. As a result, you experience episodes of stoppage in breathing throughout the night. The largest muscle is the tongue, which is most likely the culprit for the collapse of the airway. Often times, the tongue might even be larger than normal. While the tongue is present in the mouth, it also extends down the throat and beyond—throughout most of the length of the collapsible upper airway.

Dr. Foster’s Role in Sleep Apnea Treatment

To meet your individual needs in Warrenton for sleep apnea care, Dr. Foster has completed specialized training so she can choose and fit an oral appliance. Through a custom oral appliance, your treatment plan will be made just for you. Rigorous training allows dentists to successfully treat sleep apnea in their patients—that means Dr. Foster can successfully help you, too.

Oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea treatment in Warrenton helps to control the collapsing of the tongue into the airway by moving the jaw forward, allowing for air to flow from the mouth to the tongues. This allows for proper breathing to occur. An oral appliance will allow you to stop snoring, and sleep and breathe easier throughout the night. You will wake up refreshed and ready to take on the day. The availability of oral appliances allows dentists to provide a less invasive and more predictable solution opposed to surgery.

Contact our office in Warrenton to learn more about sleep apnea and why you should visit Dr. Bonnie Foster. Through proper care with oral appliance therapy, we can help you find relief from sleep apnea.

A Sleep Apnea History Lesson

Wed, 25 Jan 2017 09:51:00 GMT

I love history—don’t you? While we can read books upon books on the history of the world, government, music, art, and so many other topics, what about the history of sleep apnea? We know the basis of sleep apnea, but let’s take a look at the history and how it became to be an issue we watch out for at Warrenton Dental Care.

Beginnings of Sleep Apnea

Since the ancient times, sleep apnea has been observed. Even if a treatment or cause was not clear, it was still known what sleep apnea was. In the late 19 ^th century, the term “Pickwickian Syndrome” was created to describe symptoms of sleep apnea. Research, though, focused on the patients’ obesity rather than the disordered breathing they were experiencing during sleep.

In 1965, the first polysomnograph recorded apneas during sleep, which were the frequent occurrences of stoppage in breathing throughout the night. Further research continued to show that obesity was not essential for sleep apnea, as there were many other comorbidities associated with this condition.

Continued Sleep Apnea Research

As sleep apnea continued, William Dement established the first sleep clinic at Stanford University in California in 1970. Two years later, Christian Guilleminault joined the clinic and concentrated on respiratory disorders during sleep. The research on sleep apnea continues to grow each year with more interest than ever before.

Between 1975 and 1980, there were 319 articles on sleep apnea in medical literature alone. This increase in awareness continues to help pave the way for advanced treatment options to successfully help you get a better night’s sleep. With history of sleep apnea continuing to expand to this day, dentists continue to provide advanced treatment options as an alternative to CPAP therapy.

To learn more about sleep apnea and how our dentist in Warrenton can help you find relief, visit Warrenton Dental Center. As a team, we are available to educate our patients in Warrenton, VA on sleep apnea and the available treatment options. Let us help you get a better night’s sleep.

Sleep Apnea can be linked to Depression

Mon, 23 Jan 2017 10:38:00 GMT

There’s a complex link between sleep apnea and depression. We can see that depression causes sleep problems and sleep problems can contribute to depression. At Warrenton Dental Center, we provide dental sleep medicine services in order to be your first line of defense against sleep apnea and other conditions. By visiting Dr. Bonnie Foster, our dentist in Warrenton, we can help treat sleep apnea.

What’s the Connection?

As dental and medical fields continue to advance, so do the links. Recently, we have seen a link between sleep apnea and depression. This is especially true because insomnia is very common among depressed patients. Evidence even suggests that people with insomnia are 10 times more likely to develop depression than those who actually get a good night’s sleep.

For those who are depressed, they can suffer from a variety of insomnia symptoms, including:

Obstructive sleep apnea is linked with depression because it has been found that people with depression are five times more likely to suffer from sleep-disordered breathing. Yikes!

Treating Sleep Apnea

The good news is that treating OSA may improve depression (Yay!). And, in many cases, because symptoms of depression often overlap with symptoms of sleep apnea, there can be a risk for misdiagnosis. If you suffer from depression, it is important to be screened for sleep apnea at Warrenton Dental Center. To better understand your symptoms we might ask you about:

For more information on sleep apnea, please contact Dr. Bonnie Foster at Craniofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Center of Virginia. Proper treatment of sleep apnea will help you find relief from sleep apnea, as well as depression.

Lifestyle Changes Can Help Relieve Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Wed, 18 Jan 2017 09:42:00 GMT

Sleep apnea treatments are key to getting a better night’s sleep. However, there are some lifestyle changes you can make, too, that will significantly improve your symptoms. Through lifestyle changes, you can improve your sleep while eliminating sleep apnea symptoms. You can enjoy an improvement for your health and sleep. Continue reading to learn more about lifestyle changes you should make.

Quit Smoking

Yes, we all know that smoking is harmful to your health, but what about your sleep? Smoking has a significant negative impact on your overall health and sleep apnea. So toss that cigarette out and quit smoking today! If you quit smoking, you will notice the differences in not only your overall health, but sleep apnea symptoms as well. While quitting might be difficult, the end result is well worth the initial struggle. Protect your health and improve your sleep by quitting that bad habit today!

Exercise to Lose Weight

One of the leading causes of sleep apnea is obesity, which means one major change in your life should be exercise and weight loss. If you are overweight, your airway can become blocked. By losing weight you can improve your sleep and eliminate your symptoms, while also improving your overall heath. Remember to get regular exercise, even if that means only 30 minutes a day—every bit helps. By adding a little bit of exercise in your life, you can improve your health while getting a better night’s sleep.

Stop Drinking Alcohol

To learn more about sleep apnea in Warrenton and lifestyle changes to make, contact Dr. Bonnie Foster. By properly treating sleep apnea, and making lifestyle changes, you can improve your overall health while getting a better night’s sleep. What are you waiting for?

Kick Your Smoking Habit and Improve Sleep Apnea

Mon, 16 Jan 2017 09:35:00 GMT

Smoking causes lung cancer—we know that. However, it can also lead to further complications with sleep apnea. With a long list of risk factors, sleep apnea will increase if you smoke. In fact, smoking may even triple your risk of developing sleep apnea. Now that’s proof in itself that you should quit smoking now. Let’s take a closer look at this connection.

The Sleep Apnea and Smoking Connection

Smoking causes the narrowing of your airway. When this occurs, your risk of sleep apnea increases. This is also the reason why unrelated physical features, such as enlarged tonsils or adenoids, can also lead to an increased risk of sleep apnea in Warrenton. Cigarette smoking is a risk factor to sleep apnea because, over time, smoking can cause the airway to become narrower. As a result, this can lead to an increased risk of airway obstruction while sleeping.

Cigarette smoke is an irritant, which can cause the upper airway to become inflamed. This irritation from smoking can also lead to increased fluid retention in the area. Inflammation and retained fluid combine to narrow the airway, which increases the likelihood of snoring and other sleeping complications.

Quit Smoking Today

Treating sleep apnea requires several steps, but kicking your smoking habit plays a significantly larger role in improving the treatment process. While smoking might be an extremely tough habit to break, it is not an impossible one. Talk to Dr. Bonnie Foster to learn more about the negative effects of smoking on the body, as well as its impact on sleep apnea.

Do you smoke? Have you been diagnosed with sleep apnea? If you are looking for a treatment option that will help improve your sleep and sleep apnea symptoms in Warrenton, contact Dr. Foster today!

Sleep Apnea Signs and Symptoms

Wed, 11 Jan 2017 23:42:00 GMT

The most common sign of sleep apnea tends to be loud, chronic snoring, but it does not always mean you suffer from this condition. If you have heard someone snore before, or even if you were told you snore, it is important to seek further information about sleep apnea now.

During sleep, you might even gasp for air, but you won’t know this unless your bed partner tells you. And, while not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, not everyone with sleep apnea snores. Let’s find out more about the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea.

Daytime Sleepiness

If you suffer from sleep apnea, you might also notice how tired you are the next day—you might even fight to stay awake. Have you ever found yourself nodding away at your desk, desperately trying to stay awake? It could be caused by sleep apnea. You may even find yourself falling asleep during the quiet moments of the day when you are not active. Even if you don’t experience daytime sleepiness, talk to your doctor if you have problems breathing during sleep.

More Signs and Symptoms

Some other signs and symptoms of sleep apnea might include:

Contact Warrenton Dental Center for more information about sleep apnea and to see if you might be suffering from this condition. Remember, treatment is essential in providing proper overall health and a better night’s sleep.

Understanding Your Sleep Apnea Diagnosis

Mon, 09 Jan 2017 01:30:00 GMT

Sleep apnea can be a complex condition that is often hard to understand. In order to help you better understand your sleep apnea diagnosis, we have put together some helpful information and tips. With just a few tips below, we hope you will be able to better comprehend your diagnosis so you can take the steps necessary to get a better night’s sleep and improve your health.

Don’t Wait for Treatment

Take action to get a better night’s sleep by seeking treatment for sleep apnea in Warrenton, VA. If you continue to ignore your sleep apnea symptoms, it can be extremely dangerous to both your health and sleep. From high blood pressure to diabetes, the comorbidities of untreated sleep apnea can be life threatening. The first step is knowing what treatment methods exist and how you can find relief from your sleep apnea symptoms.

Remember to Lose Weight

One of the main causes of sleep apnea is excessive weight. If someone with sleep apnea is overweight or obese, they will benefit from losing weight. Be sure to stick to a sensible diet while also incorporating a good amount of exercise into your routine. Research continues to show that reducing the number of carbohydrates one consumes throughout the day helps in losing weight. Another way is to exercise a reasonable amount of time. Through this combination of exercise and eating right can help you lose weight.

Oral Appliance Therapy

The use of an oral appliance can help improve your sleep apnea symptoms if you have a narrow breathing passage. Similar in appearance to mouth guards, oral appliances are specifically made to change the position of the tongue, jaw, and palate while you sleep. It also works to help keep your airway open.

If you think oral appliance therapy might be an appropriate treatment option, contact us to learn more. Seeking treatment and understanding your sleep apnea diagnosis will help you get on the right path to overall health and wellbeing. Don’t wait for treatment. Contact our office today!

Questions About Sleep Apnea

Wed, 21 Dec 2016 09:03:00 GMT

To help you get a better understanding of sleep apnea, and understand what questions we might ask, we have put together a simple questionnaire for you. In this survey, you will see a series of questions about how likely you are to doze off during the day. Take a look:

How likely are you to doze off or fall asleep in the following situations? You should rate your chances of dozing off, not just feeling tired.

If you experience a high chance of dozing in most of these situations you might be suffering from sleep apnea. Please contact our office for more information on sleep apnea and how we can help you get a better night’s sleep.

Groups at Risk for Sleep Apnea

Mon, 19 Dec 2016 09:24:00 GMT

Have you ever wondered who is at risk for sleep apnea? It is common to wonder if you are at risk for sleep apnea, so we have put together some information to help. As you may already know, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the breathing pathways through the mouth, nose or throat are collapsed or blocked. These airways are susceptible to blockages or collapse as the muscle tone lining these pathways relax during sleep. Let’s take a look at some of the groups at risk of developing this sleep apnea.

If You Are Overweight

The biggest group at risk for sleep apnea is those that are overweight. Overweight individuals have excess tissue, which may place added pressure on the airway. In fact, more than half of those with sleep apnea are classified as being overweight. Because of this, it is important to tackle the issue at hand.

If You Are a Smoker

Smokers are three times more likely to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea than those that do not smoke. Why? Because smoking causes an increase of inflammation and fluid retention in the upper airway, which can further aggravate sleep apnea symptoms. Both smoking and sleep apnea are deadly conditions that can severely shorten your life span when combined.

If You Are a Male

Yes, that is right. Your gender also says a lot about sleep apnea and your chances of developing this condition. It is more common for men than women to develop sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is often more common in men than women. It is also more common among African Americans, Hispanics, and Pacific Islanders than Caucasians.

Contact our office today to learn more about sleep apnea and to find out if you are at risk. Early treatment is key to preventing further health complications.

Our Dental Team

Wed, 14 Dec 2016 09:00:00 GMT

We’ve got exciting news! At Warrenton Dental, we are now offering services in dental sleep medicine (Don’t worry, we’ll tell you more). By providing advanced services, we can provide our patients with the best care possible for both oral and overall health. Through the completion of continuing education courses, our entire dental team has been able to prepare for these advanced services. Let’s take a look at the role of a few members of our dental team.

The Dentist

Leading the team is of course our dentist. In order to properly provide services in dental sleep medicine, such as sleep apnea treatment, Dr. Bonnie Foster had to attend seminars, lectures and other continuing education courses. Through these courses, Dr. Foster can now provide you with proper care for sleep apnea. From knowing the right questions to the signs, Dr. Foster maintains the ability to properly treat sleep apnea, so you can get a better night’s sleep.

The Hygienist

As a partner in your health at every visit, our hygienist will be there every step of the way. Just like Dr. Bonnie Foster, our hygienist has completed continuing education to remain up-to-date with the latest advancements in dental sleep medicine. Our hygienists will ask you questions and will often notice the first signs of sleep apnea, even if you might not be aware of it yet. Seek the guidance of our hygienists to help guide you in your treatment journey.

The Office Manager

Our front desk staff and office manager will be your go-to for important information. From scheduling your appointment to asking for further information on sleep apnea, and other services, our team will work with you. Let us help you in your journey to finding a solution for your symptoms.

Contact our office today to learn more about sleep apnea and how our dental team can help you remain healthy and happy.

3 Negative Effects of Untreated Sleep Apnea

Mon, 12 Dec 2016 09:21:00 GMT

Snoring and sleep apnea are no big deal, right? Wrong. Ignoring sleep apnea or snoring can lead to the worsening of symptoms. Make treatment a top priority in order to prevent further complications. Let’s take a look at three negative effects that sleep apnea can have on your oral and overall health when treatment is ignored.

The leading complication of untreated sleep apnea is stroke. When the blood supply to part of your brain is interrupted or severely reduced, your brain tissue is deprived of oxygen and nutrients. Within just a few minutes, brain cells begin to die. Through the damage and stress to your blood vessels, it is believed that this is caused by blood pressure and oxygen changes from sleep apnea, which increases your risk of stroke.

Rates of diabetes are higher among people with sleep apnea. This is because diabetes and sleep apnea share common risk factors, including obesity and advancing age. More than half of people that are obese are considered to be at a high risk for developing sleep apnea, while further studies also suggest having sleep apnea increases the risk of developing diabetes. It appears to be quite the dilemma.

Depression should never be ignored, and it doesn’t always go away with time. The relationship between sleep and depression is complex, but it is clear. It has been shown that depression may cause sleep problems and sleep problems may cause or contribute to depression. For some people, depression symptoms occur before the onset of sleep complications, but for others sleep problems appear first. Either way, sleep problems are associated with more severe depression.

Contact us today to learn more about the negative effects of untreated sleep apnea. We can also provide you with available treatment options to not only help you get a better night’s sleep, but to improve your overall health as well.

Why Dental Care is Important for Sleep

Wed, 07 Dec 2016 08:57:00 GMT

It is important to get a good night’s sleep every night. In doing so, your body is restored and your mind is enlivened. And, when it comes to sleep, there is one area you might have overlooked: Dental health care. More than 18 million Americans suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which means they need a good night’s sleep in order to save their lives. By visiting your dentist, you can find proper treatment options to help relieve your symptoms. Let’s take a closer look at dental care and why it is important for sleep.

The Dentist’s Role

Dentists are often the first line of defense against sleep apnea, and are the first to notice symptoms because they are in contact with their patients more frequently than the family doctor. Dr. Bonnie Foster can notice and detect the less evident symptoms of sleep apnea through asking questions and talking with you, along with an exam.

She might suspect you suffer from sleep apnea if you have complaints of lethargy, morning headaches, or dry mouth. When signs and symptoms are first noticed, dentists will send patients to sleep medicine specialists who can properly diagnose sleep apnea. If diagnosed with a sleep breathing disorder, the specialist might then refer you back to our office for treatment with oral appliance therapy.

Treatment Options

Treatment options for sleep apnea will vary depending on the severity of the disorder. If you are suffering from mild sleep apnea, simple behavioral changes such as losing weight might make all the difference. Those suffering from mild to moderate sleep apnea can also be treated with oral appliance therapy. Similar to a mouth guard, an oral appliance helps to reposition the jaw and tongue to improve airflow. As with any appliance, they will require some adjusting and commitment but are easy to wear and use.

To learn more about how Dr. Bonnie Foster can help with treatment of sleep apnea, please contact our office today!

Why is Sleep So Important?

Mon, 05 Dec 2016 09:14:00 GMT

With such a busy schedule you might find yourself contemplating skipping out on sleep. After all, losing a few hours of sleep won’t do any harm, right? This isn’t the case. The truth is that you can’t afford to lose sleep. Just as we need to eat, we also need to sleep. We might not be thinking about sleep all day, but we do acknowledge that we need it at some point. By getting a proper amount of sleep each night, we feel more alert, more energetic, happier, and we can even function better. And, by going without sleep, you will begin feeling worse.

Lost Sleep

Losing a night of sleep can cause you to feel irritable during the next day. It can even cause you to slow down and become tired easily. However, if you lose two nights of sleep, your symptoms can worsen:

Because of this, your day-to-day life will become more difficult to complete. The more sleep you lose, the more your body will begin to shut down.

After the third day of no sleep, you might begin to hallucinate, which can cause clear thinking to diminish. Even if you get just a few hours of sleep per night, you can still experience many of the same problems over time. As the sleep deprivation increases, the more your symptoms will worsen. In time, a lack of sleep would prove to be fatal.

The Power of Sleep

It’s the power of sleep. While many of us try to sleep as little as possible, it is important to pay attention to why just a few more hours of sleep can make all the difference. Just as exercise and nutrition are essential for optimal health and happiness, so is sleep.

Quality sleep every night can directly affect your life in an array of areas, including:

When you sleep, it isn’t a time for your brain and body to shut down, it is a way for your brain to continue to work. Your brain oversees a variety of biological maintenance in order to keep your body running and to prepare you for the next day. However, as mentioned before, without enough hours of restorative sleep, you won’t be able to work, create, learn, or communicate at your highest potential.

Contact our office today to learn more about sleep and how we can help you overcome your sleep condition.

Oral Appliance Therapy for Sleep Apnea Treatment

Fri, 02 Dec 2016 21:14:00 GMT

People who snore loudly are often the target of bad jokes and middle of the night elbow jabs. While snoring is no laughing matter, it is important for to get appropriate treatment so your symptoms do not worsen. Loud, disruptive snoring may strain relationships, but it may also signal a potentially life threatening disorder: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). To help with the treatment of sleep apnea, we offer oral appliances at MAP Laboratory.

What is Oral Appliance Therapy?

The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) has stated that oral appliance therapy is a recommended form of treatment for adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who:

While CPAP therapy is still the first-line option for treating OSA, oral appliance therapy is an effective alternative that is preferred by many patients. Despite the fact that treatment with a CPAP machine is extremely successful, there are a number of patients who cannot or choose not to wear the facemask with the attached air compressor. When patients are CPAP non-compliant, oral appliance therapy can be a good option.

Experience the Benefits

One of the leading benefits of oral appliance therapy is the increased mobility. Oral appliance therapy is extremely convenient and comfortable. Imagine traveling with a CPAP machine. Where do you store it? Do you have to pay extra for a carry-on? We understand that you need an option that is less intrusive, which is where an oral appliance comes into the picture.

Oral appliances come in handy when it comes to the need for mobility. Overall, these devices tend to be more economical and are generally a lot easier to tolerate and use. Still, there is no one-size-fits-all scenario, and oral appliances work well by themselves in combination with other therapies.

Currently, the largest number of patients suffering from sleep apnea is in the mild to moderate categories, and should be treated with oral appliances. Contact our office to learn more about sleep apnea and how oral appliance therapy can help.

Now Offering Sleep Apnea Services

Wed, 30 Nov 2016 20:50:00 GMT

We are excited to announce new services at our office! To continue to provide you with the care we are known to provide, we have completed continuing education in order to offer sleep apnea services.

From snoring to pauses in breathing, sleep apnea is not a disorder we should ignore. In fact, proper treatment is needed immediately. As with other diseases and conditions, there are different types of sleep apnea you might be suffering from. To help you understand sleep apnea, let’s look at the different types and stages.

The Types of Sleep Apnea

If you or a loved one suffers from sleep apnea, you might already know the side effects of not breathing while sleeping. So, let’s take a brief look at Obstructive, Central and Complex Sleep Apnea:

By understanding the types of sleep apnea, we can tailor appropriate treatment for you.

The Stages of Sleep Apnea

In addition to the types of sleep apnea, there are also three stages that occur as well:

To learn more about sleep apnea, please contact our office and we can work with you to find the right treatment option available.

It’s National Diabetes Day!

Tue, 22 Mar 2016 08:24:00 GMT

That’s right! March 22, 2016 is National Diabetes Day! While this might only be one day, it is important to keep raising awareness for diabetes all year long. This is especially true because of the connect between diabetes and sleep apnea.

So, in light of National Diabetes Day, let’s talk about an area of sleep apnea you might not have realized was connected: Co-morbid conditions. Comorbidity is a health condition that often exists at the same time in the same person as a different condition. This doesn’t necessarily mean that one health condition causes the other, but it does mean that the two conditions are so frequently found together that doctors acknowledge that there is some kind of connection between them.

Comorbidities of sleep apnea have been shown to include a number of health conditions, including diabetes, so let’s take a closer look:

Type 2 Diabetes

If you have type 2 diabetes it is very common to also suffer from sleep apnea. Additionally, type 2 diabetes can also lead to obesity, which is another common comorbidity of sleep apnea. Both diabetes and sleep apnea share a long list of potential complications, including:

While treating sleep apnea is important in getting a good night’s rest, it can also help treat and maybe even eradicate many other diabetic complications. Taking charge of your diabetes and sleep apnea can potentially improve your health and save your life—it’s worth seeking treatment immediately.

Sleep apnea can be easily treated to prevent many of the above comorbidities. Now is the time to take charge of your health by visiting Craniofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Center of Virginia for proper treatment planning—your health and life will benefit in the long run.

Red Nose Day

Wed, 29 Apr 2015 17:58:00 GMT

Warrenton Dental Center is proud supporter of Red Nose Day. Red Nose Day is helping to eliminate childhood poverty. Come in to see us and get your Red Nose.

Save your teeth

Tue, 21 Apr 2015 14:18:00 GMT

It is important to plan for your children’s future. You spend money on education, extracurricular activities, and clothing. Why not invest in a healthy future for your children by banking their dental stem cells? Being prepared for your family’s future is important. Taking steps to ensure you are ready for health issues down the road can […]