Friday 21 October 2016

Tips and Facts About Child Tooth Decay



Child tooth decay is a serious concern within the dental community throughout the United Kingdom. More and more school aged children are being hospitalised within the country each year to have their teeth extracted for tooth decay that is so bad it cannot be treated in the dentist chair.

Tariq Drabu, a leading dentist and specialist oral surgeon, the owner of Langley Dental Practice has advised that there are tips and facts parents and teachers need to know to help reduce tooth decay in our younger generations. The good news is that tooth decay is preventable, as long as parents start implementing a good oral health routine from an early age and understand what causes tooth decay to reduce their risk of their children suffering moving forward.

Processed baby foods

Tariq Drabu mentioned that a high number of parents assume because baby food is made specially for children, it doesn't contain any sugars. This is a big mistake as a large number of processed baby foods have a very high volume of sugar. Tariq Drabu recommends that parents make their own baby food, so they can control the amount of sugar their baby eats on a daily basis.

He also advised that a high number of parents still add sugar to their home made baby food when they start introducing their baby to solids, this should be avoided at all costs.

Sugared foods and drinks

Parents believe that a flavoured water or a fruit juice is safe for their children to drink over fizzy drinks, but the fact is that flavoured waters and even fruit juices contain sugars. Tariq Drabu recommends that children should be given a glass of milk or water. Water is fantastic at quenching thirst and will keep the child hydrated, while milk is brimming with calcium which promotes health teeth and bones.

The facts

Tariq Drabu advised that the facts surrounding tooth decay in children within the United Kingdom is worrying with fifty percent of eight year olds having some degree of tooth decay in their milk teeth and one in three five year olds suffer from tooth decay.

Parents need to watch out for certain ingredients in foods and drinks to ensure that they eliminate sugars effectively. Sugars are:

  • fructose
  • glucose
  • lactose
  • sucrose

In addition to this, all children should be brushing their teeth twice a day. Once right before bed for a full two minutes and then again after breakfast before they head to school.

Keep Teeth Healthy This Upcoming Festive Season



Image result for Teeth Healthy clipart 
Tariq Drabu s a leading dentist and specialist oral surgeon based in the United Kingdom. He is also the owner of the successful Langley Dental Practice where he caters to patients of all ages on a daily basis. Tariq Drabu mentioned that one of the biggest challenges as the festive season approaches is sugar intake.

Avoid sticky and chewy sweets


Tariq Drabu recommends that patients should avoid any chewy, sticky and hard sweets during the festive season. While chocolates are often given at the holidays, eating a small amount of chocolate and then brushing a little later on is better than toffees, fruit chews and sucking sweets. Sugar eats away at the hard enamel, the outer coating of the teeth. The enamel does not repair itself and once damaged the only option is a filling, or if ignored possibly root canal or tooth extraction.

Sugar free gum

Tariq Drabu recommends that patients carry sugar free gum with them at all times. After cocktails with friends or work colleagues or after a festive meal, chewing sugar free gum can help remove food debris, sugars, acids and plaque, helping to clean the teeth until the next brush.

It is important to ensure the chewing gum you choose is sugar free, so you know that it will not cause damage to the enamel and can be an effective part of your oral health routine this festive season.

Brush and floss

The festive season is a busy season for most families and it is easy to let your oral health routine slide. Tariq Drabu mentioned that it is imperative that everyone continues to take the time to brush their teeth twice a day, the most important brush is right before bed after eating and drinking during the day. Brushing should be for a minimum of two minutes focusing on each individual tooth.

In addition to this, flossing is also important to clean between the teeth and along the gum line. This should be done a minimum of once a day, but ideally with both brushing to ensure it is effective.

Dental appointment

Tariq Drabu did state that the most common problem with patients who have a routine dental appointment over the festive season is cancellations and postponements. He recommends that all routine appointments should be kept. They are quick appointments which could reduce the risk of further oral problems, as during the appointment the dentist thoroughly checks the teeth, gums and mouth.

Thursday 13 October 2016

Routine Dental Appointments – Why You Should Never Miss One



Image result for children oral healthTariq Drabu is a leading dentist and specialist oral surgeon, he is also the owner of the successful Langley Dental Practice where he helps patients with their oral health needs on a daily basis. Tariq Drabu mentioned that there are thousands of people throughout the United Kingdom that postpone or even cancel their routine dental check up, something that is imperative to helping them improve their oral health and preserve their natural teeth in the long run.

Improved Oral Health

Your routine dental check up is usually scheduled six months to a year at your last dental appointment, based on your overall oral health. During this dental appointment, your dentist will carefully check your face, mouth, teeth and gums to identify if there are any problems that you need to be aware of. This appointment enables the dentist to see if there is any signs of cavities, breaks or cracks in your teeth. Identifying these problems now and treating them can reduce the need for more invasive measures in the long run, such as root canal treatment or even possibly,removing the tooth completely.

During this appointment, your dentist can also identify what oral health measures you should be taken as a preventative measure against oral decay and disease. He will advise you about flossing your teeth, brushing your teeth and the importance of diet.

Identify Gum Disease

Every adult will experience gum disease at some point in their lives. There are two types of gum disease, the first is gingivitis, which causes swelling, bleeding and discomfort and then there is periodontal disease, a sever bacterial disease that if left untreated could result in tooth loss. Tariq Drabu advised that during the routine dental appointment, the dentist will check the gums thoroughly to identify if there is any sign of gum disease and provide their patients with advice and / or treatment depending on how severe the gum disease is.

Oral Cancer

The number of new oral cancer cases being diagnosed in the United Kingdom increases each and every year. There are almost seven thousand new cases diagnosed each year and more than two thousand deaths as a result. Tariq Drabu advised that early detection can increase a patients survival rate by ninety percent. During the routine dental appointment, the dentist looks for the signs of oral cancer to ensure the patient is tested and treatment is started without delay.