Dr. Ann Abdulla, DDS

Reducing stress can be great for ! What's your favorite summer read? Romance? Mystery? History?

Replacing those ultra-processed foods with nutrient-dense whole and minimally processed foods may improve your health and also help prevent or reverse gum disease, an inflammatory condition. (So are most of the systemic health problems that gum disease has been linked to.)

A new study suggests sleep deprivation may hinder the brain’s ability to re-set during the night. How?
Scientists suggest that the initial "slow-wave" cycle of sleep prepares the brain for "more learning and new connections again the next day."
When sleep was deprived, scientists found the brain’s ability to complete this process during the slow-wave cycle was less effective.

First half of sleep resets the brain -- but what does the second half do? The new findings raise the question of why the brain only resets neural connections during the first half of the night and what function the second half of sleep holds.

Cucumber season is here! Cukes are loaded with , which is key for bone and !
(Substitution tip: if you don't have sour cream, this recipe also works with unsweetened yogurt!)

Trying to explain can be tough. Despite its benefits, swishing in your mouth for 15 minutes and then spitting it out does sound a little weird! But doesn’t it feel great once it’s a regular habit?

On our blog this month, we take a look at new research comparing the difference in blood pressure when treating apnea with oral appliance therapy versus a CPAP...and there is a significant difference.

High Blood Pressure + Sleep Apnea? Oral Appliance Therapy May Be Better than CPAP for You, New Research Shows - Laguna Hills Center for Sleep Apnea & CPAP Intolerance If you have obstructive sleep apnea – or a partner with OSA – you’re certainly familiar with the loud snoring and disrupted sleep patterns that come with the condition. You’re also likely aware that OSA is more than just an annoyance but a literally life-threatening condition. Apnea deprives...

Dr. Abdulla designs a unique course of treatment for each patient with . Treatment may include multiple therapies including ultrasound, but also Botox, exercise, and more. We also evaluate your regularly, making adjustments when necessary to put you on the path of relief from even long-lasting and dysfunction.

If these "travel tips" from CPAP.com seem like a lot of work for your vacation, maybe it's time to look into alternative therapies for your .
Traveling with an sure is a lot more simple!
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When a patient is fitted with an oral device it is important to properly position the appliance for . Dr. Abdulla analyzes measurements to adjust your oral appliance for maximum oxygen intake based on your unique mandibular-maxilla relationship!

Your oral and overall health are physically connected, but they’re also connected through energetic meridian pathways that lead from each tooth to different parts of your body.
Our interactive dental meridians chart may help you see how a meridian blockage could be affecting your overall health!

Dental Meridians - Laguna Hills Center for Sleep Apnea & CPAP Intolerance There are excellent options for sleep apnea patients who cannot tolerate CPAP therapy. Let us help you find a sleep apnea treatment that works for you.

With so many potential causes of TMJ pain and dysfunction, it's important to find a provider with specialized training in TMD diagnosis and treatment.
Since completing a mini-residency just for and at the School of Dentistry, Dr. Abdulla has been a continual student, consistently taking courses to learn the latest developments in and biological techniques for effectively treating TMJ disorders and related pain.

Dr. Abdulla is a certified member of the International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine (IABDM) and SMART-certified by the IAOMT | International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology in .

If your CPAP is collecting dust so you're not getting the sleep you need, maybe it’s time to find a better apnea solution! With oral appliance therapy, you may be on your way to more restful nights and more healthful days!

You might be surprised at how many benefits you'll enjoy when you and switch to an to treat your !

Seeing the rise in sports coverage for women is so empowering and inspiring! Tess Booth, one of our neighbors down in Laguna Beach, is a great role model for all aspiring surfers, as well as anyone who knows that a healthy lifestyle includes balancing time with family, time exercising outdoors, and time alone! (Plus good oral hygiene, sleep, and healthy eating of course!)

Beyond the break: Tess Booth finds passion in surfing, solo travel and family - Laguna Beach Local News Blink and you might pass up the beautiful shores of Oak Street Beach. Among the 26 unique shorelines in Laguna Beach, Oak Street is home to not only a marine protected area but also a host of locals like the Booth family, who call many of these unique shorelines home. For Tess Booth, 20, growing up....

Research shows more than half of individuals with may also have - and untreated apnea can lead to increased insulin resistance, higher blood pressure, and higher glucose levels in your blood. If you have an apnea diagnosis, we can help you with a much more comfortable & portable !

Did you know oxygen is not optional whether you're awake or sleeping? 🧐😊
(Actually, what you might NOT know is that oral appliances can treat severe sleep apnea too!) Learn more in this month's blog.

Oral Appliances Can Treat Even Severe Sleep Apnea Effectively, Research Shows - Laguna Hills Center for Sleep Apnea & CPAP Intolerance Sleep is something we all need, essential to good oral, systemic, and mental health. (True story: Scientific evidence suggests that lack of sleep may be a risk factor for gum disease.) Sleep is an opportunity for your body to take care of business that it can’t do when you’re up and about – to...

Love that researchers continue to explore effective ways to diagnose and treat periodontitis, but we think the real game changer is ozone! Ozone can function as an antimicrobial agent to disinfect, facilitate better blood flow, enhanced immune response, and more rapid healing. With ozone therapy, you can get treatment for your gum disease without the use of pharmaceutical drugs and their associated side effects!

Game changers in dentistry and oral medicine: From quick diagnosis to efficient treatment of serious gum diseases Antibacterial photodynamic therapy has been shown to hamper plaque formation and reduce the number of periodontal bacteria in the mouth. Learn about a rapid test in development...

The word dandelion is from the French "dent de lion," which means lion’s tooth (because of the serrated leaves) - but we like to think it's because the greens are great for teeth and bones! 🙄 😬 Growforagecookferment.com has some great dandelion recipes and advice for leaves, blossoms, and roots if you're new to foraging and preparing wild greens and flowers!

A recent study suggests that wearing an eye mask during sleep could "benefit cognitive function and lead to measurable impacts on everyday life." Sure sounds like it could be a minimally invasive and inexpensive way to boost your brain power! But a sleep mask can only help with light, so if your sleep is also disrupted by snoring, you may have apnea! Ask us about CPAP-free treatment options that you might find just as comfortable as a sleep mask!

Wearing an eye mask during overnight sleep improves episodic learning and alertness Abstract. Ambient light can influence sleep structure and timing. We explored how wearing an eye mask to block light during overnight sleep impacts memory and a

Dr. Abdulla recently received advanced training with Joseph Cohen, DDS, Director of Orofacial Pain at the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health. Dr. Cohen is demonstrating a technique to dismantle a trigger point in the trapezius muscle that can be a culprit of jaw pain. The trigger point is injected and then stretched, because not all jaw pain originates from the jaw, but can be referred from the neck.

Did you know that the fancy organic peppermint tea you're getting at the grocery is just dried and crushed peppermint leaves? 😳 😲 🤑
Maybe try making your own! Mint tea may help with digestion, ease headaches, and boost brain function. Chewing a fresh mint leaf or two can also be an easy way to reduce the bad bacteria that give you bad breath.

A range of options to help you avoid "halitoxic" breath!

How Bacteria Can Make Breath Bad (& 10 Tips for Doing Something About It) - Laguna Hills Center for Sleep Apnea & CPAP Intolerance As long as there have been mouths, there has been stinky breath, but it took modern advertising to turn it into a cause for mortification, fueling fear of total social ostracism. The marketers even created a new, medical-ish sounding name for the condition: halitosis (from the Latin halitus, meaning...

Everyone's needs are different, but for thorough interdental cleaning it can be beneficial - and a little less boring - to have more than one tool. An electric water flosser can be great for flushing out food particles, but also flushing periodontal pockets - great harbors for pathogens that love the dark, wet, low-oxygen, and inaccessible environment. Floss and interdental cleaners can do a better job removing plaque. Instead of deciding which is best, think about how you might spruce up your routine by adding something new to your oral hygiene game!

The financial benefit of treating sleep apnea might be another reason to put apnea treatment at the top of your list - better sleep could positively impact your job performance, lower your risk of automobile accidents, and lower your health care costs!

Henry Nahoum, DDS, the inventor of thermoplastic appliances, spoke last month at Dr. Abdulla's alma mater, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry! Not only did his invention lead to the oral appliance therapies we're able to provide as alternatives for a CPAP in treating apnea, he’s also 104! Guessing his longevity might be due to great oral hygiene, an active brain and body, restful sleep, a nourishing diet, and a deep commitment to dentistry and sharing his expertise with others.

104 Year-Old Dr. Henry Nahoum Lectures | School of Dentistry [104 year=old Dr. Hanry Nahoum lectures to the LLUSD Advanced Dental Education classes.]

There are a lot of sobering statistics about apnea when it goes untreated, but the good news is that getting treated - or trading in your bulky CPAP for a comfortable oral appliance - can be a step toward better sleep and a healthier brain and body!

There are farmer’s markets throughout Orange County nearly every day of the week where you have the chance to find fresh produce and support local businesses. Eating more whole foods, organic if possible, and fewer processed foods is just one tasty way to support gum and overall health!

Shop at Farmers' Markets | Ocfm California certified farmers' markets are the real thing - places where genuine farmers sell fruits, nuts, and vegetables directly to the public.  Every farmer who sells at a certified market is inspected by the county agricultural commissioner to make sure that he/she actually grows the commodity ...