Dental Hygiene Tips from Leading Dental Professional

Tariq Drabu is a leading dentist and specialist oral surgeon based in the United Kingdom. He is the owner of the Langley Dental Practice which caters to private and NHS patients on a daily basis.

Tariq Drabu advised that there are a number of hygiene tips which are shared by hygienist around the world to encourage patients to improve their oral health and look after their teeth and gums at all times.

Replace your toothbrush

The first dental hygiene tip is to replace your toothbrush at least every three to four months. So many people will follow a good brushing routine, but fail to replace their toothbrush, which can result in them spreading bacteria around their mouth rather than removing it.

Brushing Technique

The next hygiene tip is to ensure you are brushing properly. Brushing involves holding your toothbrush at a forty five degree angle and brushing each individual tooth with gum. It should take you no faster than a full two to three minutes to brush all your teeth effectively. This should be done twice daily with the brushing before bed being the most important.

Flossing

Tariq Drabu agrees that not everyone enjoys the experience of flossing and when you have bridges and crowns, you may fear that the floss will pull them out of place. At the same time, flossing is imperative to your oral health and will help improve gum health in the long run. You need to focus between each of the teeth, wiggling the floss back and forth and remember to go over the gum line. Flossing should be done once a day, though Tariq Drabu advises that if you want to floss twice daily, he definitely encourages that.

Sugar free gum

There will be times when your toothbrush isn't at hand. You may have gone out for lunch with a colleague or you have gone away for the night and accidentally left your toothbrush at home. There is no need to panic. Tariq Drabu advised that everyone should carry sugar free gum in their bag or overnight bag.

The sugar free gum can help remove food, bacteria and plaque, while the chewing will increase saliva production which is alkaline and designed to protect the teeth.

Professional clean

Tariq Drabu also recommends that all patients visit their oral hygienist on given appointments to have their teeth professionally cleaned to remove plaque and tartar build up.

Is an Electric Toothbrush Better Than Manual? Yes or No

Tariq Drabu, a leading dentist and specialist oral surgeon in Manchester, has advised on whether or not a manual or an electric toothbrush is the better option for your teeth. There are numerous discussions regarding this and according to Tariq Drabu, it is down to what you are most comfortable with, your fine motor skills and your ability to effectively remove plaque to ensure healthy teeth and gums.

Electric toothbrush facts

Tariq Drabu advised that a large majority of dental professionals will encourage patients to invest in an electric toothbrush, especially after a study at Sheffield University showed that those using rotating head electric toothbrushes were able to remove more than eleven percent more plaque than those using a manual toothbrush.

Other positive reasons to use an electric toothbrush includes its ability to reduce the risk  of gum disease. Those using the electric toothbrush find that they have healthy gums. This is often due to the brush gently brushing the gums as it works.

Tariq Drabu mentioned that the electric toothbrush does work and that they do offer a host of benefits. Of course the one disadvantage is the initial cost.

Manual toothbrush facts

The manual toothbrush is being used by millions of people each and every day and effectively. Tariq Drabu did mention that someone using a manual toothbrush correctly with a good brushing technique will have the same positive results as someone using an electric toothbrush.

There are benefits to using the manual toothbrush and this includes cost, they are affordable, making it easy to budget a replacement every three months with ease.

With the right brushing technique, a manual toothbrush can be as effective as an electric toothbrush. Tariq Drabu advises that you hold the brush at a forty five degree angle, focusing on each individual tooth. You will also want to ensure you brush the gum gently while brushing to ensure all bacteria and plaque is effectively removed.

Tariq Drabu also recommends patients ensure that they leave their brush standing upright after use, allowing it to air dry. Ensure you also rinse it before and after each use to ensure it remains in good condition at all times.

The conclusion

When deciding on whether to buy electric or manual and which brush is the better choice, Tariq Drabu states it is down to personal preference and how effective your brushing technique is to ensure healthy teeth and gums at all times.

Calcium – How Much Do You Need?

Tariq Drabu has advised that it is essential for you to know exactly how much calcium your body actually needs throughout your life so you can ensure you enjoy healthy teeth and bones at all times.

Tariq Drabu is a top dentist and specialist oral surgeon who owns the successful Langley Dental Practice in Middleton. He is passionate about educating his patients and giving them the information they need to promote healthy teeth and help preserve their natural teeth for as long as possible.

Tariq Drabu did mention that everyone only has one set of permanent teeth which start pushing through at a relatively young age. These teeth are the ones you need to care for right through your adulthood. In addition to this, he also mentioned that he wants his patients to know that teeth start developing when the baby is already in the womb.

How Much Calcium is Enough?

For babies up to one year, they should get between four hundred and six hundred milligrams of calcium each and every day. Children from one year to ten years should be getting eight hundred milligrams of calcium daily, while older children from ten to eighteen should be consuming between twelve hundred and fifteen hundred milligrams of calcium each and every day in order to promote healthy bones and teeth.

As we reach adulthood our intake can reduce to twelve hundred milligrams, though pregnant and lactating women need to increase their intake to two thousand milligrams. Bear in mind that a baby's teeth and bones develop in the womb, so a good intake of calcium can promote healthy bones and teeth as an infant.

Seniors should be taking in about fifteen hundred milligrams of calcium each day.

Where to Get Your Calcium

Calcium can be found in a wide range of different foods that you can easily incorporate into your diet on a daily basis. Dairy products such as milk, cheese and yoghurt are very high in calcium. So are sardines and leafy greens such as chard.

Even if you ate large volumes of dairy, you may not achieve the levels your body needs to promote healthy teeth, therefore Tariq Drabu recommends a good multi-vitamin that is rich in calcium so that you can help strengthen your teeth on a daily basis.

Tariq Drabu Discusses Oral Cancer and What You Need to Know

Tariq Drabu is the owner of the successful Langley Dental Practice in Middleton and is also a leading dentist and specialist oral surgeon. He was born and educated in Manchester and provides dental services to NHS and private patients on a daily basis.

A big concern that is a global problem right now is oral cancer. The number of new cases being reported is increasing on a daily basis and the problem is that this is a preventative disease in most instances. In fact, more than ninety percent of the oral cancer cases in the United Kingdom are lifestyle related.

The Facts

Tariq Drabu really wants to cover the facts relating to oral cancer to help patients really understand the impact of this disease. In the United Kingdom alone there are more than six thousand seven hundred new cases being diagnosed each and every year. There are also more than two thousand deaths as a result of oral cancer.

It is also very important to note that the sooner the cancer is caught and treated the higher the life expectancy. Ideally you want oral cancer to be caught in the early stages, which can improve life expectancy considerably.

Symptoms

There are a number of symptoms that patients need to be aware of when it comes to oral cancer. This includes sores in the mouth that don't heal after a few weeks to red dots on the tongue and gums. Tariq Drabu did mention that anyone even slightly concerned they may have this disease should visit their doctor or dentist without delay.

Have it Checked

Due to the fact that the majority of oral cancer cases are lifestyle associated, Tariq Drabu does recommend that patients have themselves screened for oral cancer. The dentist will thoroughly check their mouth, gums, teeth and tongue to identify any signs and symptoms the patient may not have noticed. They will then conduct any further testing which may be required in order to get treatment soonest in the event that you do have oral cancer.

Regular Dental Appointments

Tariq Drabu also advises that patients need to attend their routine dental appointment, which is usually every six to twelve months depending on their overall oral health. This enables the dentist to identify any problems and treat it effectively.