Dental Tips from Leading UK Dentist and Oral Surgeon - 2016

There are five very important dental tips you are going to want to bear in mind each and every day. When you are carrying out your oral hygiene routine at home or whether you are on your way to your dentist for a routine check up, keep these five things in mind.

Tariq Drabu, a leading UK dentist and specialist oral surgeon has advised that there are five dental tips that everyone needs to know about.

1. The most important dental care takes place at home. Tariq Drabu advises that prevention is better than cure, but the majority of oral health prevention takes place at home. Brushing twice a day, flossing daily and then only a routine dental appointment will be needed to ensure you take proper care of your teeth and gums at all times. Tariq Drabu also recommends a healthy diet with limited sugars to reduce the risk of tooth decay.
2. Tariq Drabu wants to remind patients that a healthy smile is much better than a perfect one. Everyone will have one or two imperfections, this may be a slightly crooked tooth or slight discolouration, but at long as the teeth are healthy, that is what should matter the most and is what will give the patient the best smile moving forward.
3. Tariq Drabu also advises that teeth don't have to be perfectly straight, this is not natural. Rather ensure your teeth are properly aligned and don't be embarrassed by the gap here and there.
4. Take care of your gums. Gum health is as important as healthy teeth. Everyone is prone to gum disease and most adults will have gum disease at some point in their lives. At your dental appointment, your dentist will poke and prod your gums, this is quite normal. If you notice any bleeding while brushing or your gums tend to get red and swollen, Tariq Drabu advises you visit your dentist as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment.
5. He also recommends that the one mistake many people make is to over whiten, which looks completely unnatural. At the Langley Dental Practice they provide two whitening options to take advantage of, both are affordable in price and both are carried out under strict supervision from one of the dental team.

Stop Smoking to Reduce Risk of Mouth Cancer

Tariq Drabu, a leading dentist and specialist oral surgeon, advises patients that there is a significant increase in the number of mouth cancer cases being diagnosed in the United Kingdom each and every year.

This top Manchester based dentist has advised that more public awareness is needed regarding oral cancer. While the figures continue to rise year after year, the number of people actually aware of this cancer is limited. In fact, according to Tariq Drabu, oral cancer is now the tenth most common cancer in men and the fifteenth most common cancer in women throughout the country.

Effects of Smoking

Smoking has a negative effect on the body, according to Tariq Drabu. He also mentioned that most people who smoke are aware of the dangers, but find that giving up the habit is harder said than done. Some of the side effects of smoking include lung disease, heart disease and an increased risk of stroke.

Interestingly what most people don't know is that more than ninety percent of oral cancer cases are lifestyle related, the majority of which are related to those who smoke. Giving up smoke does and will reduce your risk of being diagnosed with oral cancer now or later.

Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is a serious concern nationwide. There are seven thousand five hundred new cases being diagnosed in the United Kingdom each and every year, of this more than two thousand patients die each year from this horrific disease.

As with any form of cancer, catching the disease in the early stages increases chances of recovery. Diagnosing and treating cancer in the early stages can increase lifespan by more than five years.

The role of the dental profession

As a dental professional, Tariq Drabu feels that dentists could play a more important role in smoking cessation than they are already. Currently dentists are responsible for diagnosing and treating tooth and gum issues, they also play a vital role in diagnosing potential oral cancer and ensuring patients get the confirmation and treatment they deserve.

Tariq Drabu mentioned that because smoking is one of the top causes for oral cancer, he believes that dentists should take the time to educate their patients on smoking and oral cancer, the links between the two along with options to help the patients stop smoking without delay.

Aging - Increased Oral Health Risk

Tariq Drabu, a leading dentist and specialist oral surgeon, has advised that aging increases the risk of  poor oral health and having a good oral health routine from a young age and ensuring that you continue caring for your teeth is the best way to preserve your natural teeth for as long as possible.

Increased risk of tooth decay

Tariq Drabu did mention that one of the biggest concerns as we age is that our teeth wear. Even though following a fantastic oral hygiene routine at home will improve the level of oral health you experience in older age, it will not reduce your risk of having some cavities at some stage. No matter how much care you take, your teeth will wear down and in turn, this will result in your tooth decay risk being increased.

He recommends that any sensitivity should be investigated by a dentist immediately. Older patients should also not miss their routine dental appointment, enabling the dentist to identify problems as soon as possible.

Dry Mouth

As you age, you will be on certain medications for different conditions, some of these medications can result in dry mouth. Dry mouth is a serious condition that reduces saliva production and as a result allows bacteria to stick to the teeth. Saliva is alkaline and helps to protect the teeth against acids and bacteria.

Gum Disease

As you age your fine motor skills deteriorate, which can make it harder for you to brush and floss effectively. Without proper brushing and flossing, you miss plaque, which builds up to become sticky tartar and in turn, this can lead to gum disease. If you notice any of the gum disease signs, Tariq Drabu recommends visiting the dentist soonest. Gingivitis is mild gum disease, but the risk of serious periodontal disease is very real in older patients.

Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is a very serious risk of any older patients. More than seven thousand people are diagnosed with this cancer every single year in the United Kingdom. The majority, around ninety percent, are due to lifestyle choices. According to Tariq Drabu, the risk of getting this cancer is increased with age.

Dental Facts That May Have You Visiting the Dentist Sooner Than You Thought

Tariq Drabu, a leading dentist, advised that many people in the United Kingdom avoid the dentist until they have little choice. Often a patient will wait until they are in so much pain that they need to make an appointment. In most instances patients will miss their routine appointments, cancelling or postponing the appointment indefinitely, all to their own oral health detriment.

There are some facts patients need to be aware of, which may help them make their routine dental appointment and ensure they visit the dentist before the pain really gets bad. Tariq Drabu has put some fun facts together which may have you dialling your dentist without delay.

• Women smile on average sixty two times a day. If you have poor oral health, stains on your teeth or misaligned teeth then you are not going to enjoy smiling and chances are you are going to cover your mouth. Visiting your dentist can help you improve your oral health, you can have tooth whitening procedures done in confidence and they can recommend alignment solutions based on your unique dental needs.

• Children are costing the NHS millions each year. More and more children are being admitted to hospital to have their teeth extracted under general anesthetic than ever before. The concern, according to Tariq Drabu, is that these children's decay is so severe it cannot be treated in the dental chair.

• More than fifteen thousand children are being hosptialised for tooth extractions across the country each year. This has resulted on a strain on hospitals, longer operating hours and some children having to wait up to a year for an appointment. This means children are being left in pain until they can secure their appointment. This is something parents need to think about when giving their children sugared foods and drinks.

• Periodontal disease is another serious concern across the country. This severe gum disease can result in tooth loss if ignored. Visiting the dentist regularly can ensure that any gum disease is managed effectively, reducing the risk of it getting to this point.

• 7.591 people are diagnosed with oral cancer in the United Kingdom each and every year. This form of cancer results in 2,119 deaths each year. The concern is that ninety one percent of the cases are preventable.