Bruxism can be serious if not treated and monitored effectively

Tariq Drabu is a leading dentist and specialist oral surgeon based in Manchester. He is the owner of the Langley Dental Practice where they cater to NHS and private patients providing a high quality service that patients can rely on and trust. Tariq Drabu advised that he sees hundreds of patients each year who are completely unaware that they have bruxism and are damaging their teeth in the process.

Bruxism

Bruxism is tooth grinding and is very common in people of all ages from young children to seniors. Often this tooth grinding is done when the person is under stress. The problem is, according to Tariq Drabu, unless the person lives with someone or shares a room with someone, they will never know they have this condition as they grind while sleeping.

Molars

Tariq Drabu advised the most common teeth to be affected by bruxism is the molars. Grinding takes place rubbing the top and bottom molars against each other and in turn, wearing them down. Over time the teeth wears down, the enamel or worn away and the teeth can become sensitive.

In addition to this, with this condition, patients can experience jaw and neck pain. Often the only sign patients realise that they may suffer from this condition is a tight jaw on waking.

Medications

Tariq Drabu did mention that in some instances paints will need to take medications to stop them from grinding. This is decided by the dental practitioner and the patient. The medication is not long term and can be highly effective in reducing the risk of grinding and thereby improving the condition of the teeth in the long run.

Mouth Guards

At Langley Dental Practice they make a mould of their patients mouth. The mould is worn at night, according to Tariq Drabu. So while it doesn't stop the grinding, it does eliminate the damage caused as a result of bruxism.

Special Needs

Tariq Drabu did mention that recent studies have shown that certain children with special needs are at higher risk of bruxim and he recommends that all children attend their routine dental appointments so the dentist can identify if tooth grinding is taking place and put a treatment plan in place to help the patient preserve their teeth in the long run.

What You Didn't Know About Oral Health

Tariq Drabu, the owner of the successful Langley Dental Practice, has advised that there are numerous people who are surprised when they hear certain facts about oral health. It is imperative that everyone understands the importance of oral health and what they can do to maintain healthy teeth and gums at all times.

Uniqueness

Everyones teeth are unique, very much like your fingerprint. Tariq Drabu advised that teeth have been used to identify victims in various crimes around the world.

Enamel

Tariq Drabu advised that enamel is the hardest substance in the body. Enamel is the hard outer coating that protects in the inside of the tooth, which is home to he blood vessels and nerves. Enamel also doesn't regenerate, so in the event you manage to get a cavity, which is a hole in the enamel making its way the delicate dentine, it will not regrow, which is why you need to have a filling to close the hole and eliminate any sensitivity you may be experiencing as a result.

Diet

The food and drink you consume does have a direct impact on your oral health. Sugared drinks and foods are one of the leading causes for tooth decay in the United Kingdom, according to Tariq Drabu. Acidic and sugared foods are so dangerous to oral health, while crunchy fruits and vegetables and dairy products, rich in calcium are an excellent way to maintain good teeth and gums.

Sugar free gum

Tariq Drabu recommends that you keep a pack of sugar free chewing gum with you at all times. After eating you cannot always brush your teeth, but chewing on sugar free gum removes bacteria and food debris and cleans the teeth effectively without the harmful sugars that can eat away at the tooth enamel.

Don't rinse

Brushing is one of the most important steps to effective oral health. From the toothpaste you use to how you hold your toothbrush. One of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to effective tooth brushing is that once they finished brushing they rinse their mouth out with water.

In fact, Tariq Drabu has advised that toothpaste contains fluoride and you want to keep that on your teeth for as long as possible. After brushing spit out any remaining toothpaste and don't rinse for effective results.

Tips to Avoid Staining Your Teeth

Tariq Drabu is a leading dentist and specialist oral surgeon at Langley Dental Practice in Middleton. He provides patient with advice and recommendations daily to prevent damage

Tariq Drabu offers dental tips for mums

Tariq Drabu offers dental tips for mums

Tariq Drabu has drawn attention to the oral health in mothers who are busy trying to juggle work life, family and homes. It is not uncommon for mums to forget about their own health to

Oral Health and Age – What you Need to Know

As you age so do your teeth. This shouldn't be a surprise when you think that your permanent teeth start pushing through from around the age of eight or nine and they are with you throughout your life, at some point they have to start aging with you.

Oral Piercings Have Negative Impact on Oral Health

Oral Piercings Have Negative Impact on Oral Health

Before you have your tongue, lip or cheek pierced, there are a few things you should know. Mainly the fact that what most people don't realize is that piercings can have a negative impact on your oral health, which can result in you spending more time at your dentist than needed.

The first things you will find when you pierce in or around your mouth is that you may find it difficult to chew, swallow and speak. This is completely normal due to a foreign object, which may be giving you some discomfort has moved into the space. Your mouth is imperative to your health, it is what you use to nourish your self and you need to be able to swallow. You may find, especially after  tongue piercing, that your speech is affected for a couple of days to a few weeks.

Infections

As with any piercing the risk of infections increases. Whether you have your ears pierced, your belly button pierced or your tongue pierced you need to keep the area clean and free of harmful bacteria. You may notice some pain and swelling, which should clear up soon after the piercing. In the event you don't get any relief within a few days, make an appointment with your doctor or dentist to ensure the site isn't infected.

Damage teeth and gums

Next you will find, especially with tongue piercings, that your gum, teeth and any previous fillings may be damaged. As you speak, eat and swallow, the stud may move around your mouth, knocking against your teeth and gums in the process, in turn this can cause significant damage. Remember your stud is made of strong metal which is hard inside your mouth and therefore increases the risk of chipping or cracking teeth.

Nerve damage

When the piercing is done it is very easy for the piercing to damage a nerve. This can go two ways, it can either numb the area completely as the nerve has no feeling or it can have the opposite effect, leaving you in unbearable pain and not knowing which way to turn to find relief.

A dentists nightmare

While you may think your new piercing looks cool, you need to remember that it is your dentists worst nightmare. It can make working inside your mouth exceptionally difficult, it can make it harder to reach problem teeth or use certain tools.

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After School Snacks That Are Healthy for Teeth

There is so much emphasis on oral health in children throughout the United Kingdom lately, that I thought I would take this opportunity to share some healthy after school snacks you can rely on that are tooth friendly.

The number of children being admitted to hospital within the UK each year is reaching serious levels and this has been a concern for dental professionals for some time now. In most instances it is down to parents not understanding what foods their children should and should not be eating, allowing children foods which promote dental decay. As you can imagine, this has put a strain on the NHS and has forced certain hospitals to extend their operating hours as a result.

Tips for Dentists to Ensure Patients Attend Routine Appointments

Over the years, I think one of the hardest things I have had to face daily is getting my patients back through the door for their routine appointments. Depending on their current oral health oral health, routine appointments can be set anything from six months to a year or more.

Speaking to my patients, I have identified that those who don't have pain and feel that they don't have issues tend to cancel or postpone their appointments, because they don’t' see the reasoning behind visiting the dentist if there is nothing wrong.

Five Reasons To Attend Your Routine Dental Appointment

One of my biggest concerns is the number of patients who miss their routine dental appointments. When a patient comes in to see me or one of the team at Langley Dental Practice, we set them up a routine appointment right there and then. We find that making the appointment is the easy part, getting them in for the appointment is a whole different story.

Many patients can't see the benefits of visiting the dentist if they don’t' have any dental issues or pain, but the fact of the matter is that we provide patients with routine appointments for a number of reasons.

Home Remedies to Reduce Tooth Ache Until you Can See Your Dentist

One of the worst experiences is waking up in the middle of the night with severe tooth ache. For some reason it never happens when the dental practices are open and you have to sit in agony until the clock strikes 9am to get on the phone and make your emergency dental appointment.

There are a few home remedies you can take advantage of, using items you already have sitting in your kitchen cupboard. While these will numb or reduce the pain, they are not long term solutions, but they may be able to offer some temporary relief until you can make and visit your dentist first thing in the morning.

Oral Health Advice for Diabetes Patients

Diabetes is becoming a serious concern in the United Kingdom with thousands of people being diagnosed on an annual basis. Diabetes can be effectively managed through diet, exercise and controlling blood sugar levels, but at the same time, it has a negative impact on oral health.

Oral health

Anyone who has been diagnosed with diabetes, whether it's type 1 or type 2, stand an increased risk of periodontal disease and dry mouth syndrome. Periodontal disease is a severe form of gum disease which if left untreated can result in tooth loss. With this gum disease, you will find that pockets are formed between the tooth and gum which is a harbour for dangerous bacteria which attack the supporting structures of the tooth. There is treatments we can use to help treat and manage periodontal disease, helping patients hold onto their natural teeth for as long as possible.

Perfecting Smiles in 2016

I see so many patients each day who approach me to improve their smiles. Cosmetic dentistry is able to boost self-confidence and self-esteem and is able to make people feel better about themselves. We are able to help patients perfect their smiles using a choice of treatments, enabling them to choose based on what they want and their overall budget.

Tariq Drabu Dentist Comments On Recent NHS Failings

In April this year the government published the results from an NHS ‘Friends and Family Test’ which gave over 400,000 patients the opportunity to rate their hospital by providing feedback on whether or not they would recommend the hospital to a friend or family member.

However, the government’s flagship test has come under scrutiny after critics of the test have branded it ‘meaningless’ for a variety of reasons.

Sky News found that although Chase Farm Hospital, North London, was given a negative overall score on the test, the majority of people would have recommended it. When investigated further it was found that the reason behind this was due to votes only being counted as positive if the patient had stated they would “strongly agree” when asked if they would recommend the hospital. Votes where people had stated they would “agree” to recommend the hospital but “not strongly” were counted as neutral votes and therefore don’t count towards the positive rating.

Furthermore, it was found that in some cases wards were given negative ratings when only one patient had responded, meaning the test didn’t show a fair representation of the hospital overall. People have also criticised the test as it doesn’t state the reasons why patients are likely or unlikely to recommend a hospital, meaning their reasons for not recommending it could be due to a lack of car parking spaces, rather than poor care being given.

Although the tests don’t show exactly where the problems lie within the hospitals, the people behind the survey have said that getting figures every month will improve standards. Dr Tim Kelsey of the NHS Commissioning Board stated “This is how we’re going to drive an improvement in healthcare; it’s by listening to the patient on the ward and in the A&E department so that doctors and nurses on the front line can really focus on improvements in care”.

Despite criticisms, studies that look at patient care have previously revealed severe problems in certain NHS hospitals. Back in February a report regarding the care provided by Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust was published, which showed that patients were often neglected due to the Trust being preoccupied with cost cutting, targets and processes, which subsequently saw the Trust lose sight of its fundamental responsibility to provide safe care. The report, known as the Francis Report, also revealed a culture of failed management where poor medical practice was ignored and patient complaints were either dismissed or overlooked.

These findings were particular disturbing for me, Dr Tariq Drabu Dentist, to hear as I have formerly worked at Stafford Hospital in the oral surgery department back in 1987. I found the staff to be wonderful and very supportive, which is why I am devastated to hear that the high standards that I once witnessed have not  been maintained. I fundamentally believe in the ethos and values of the NHS and I am proud to be an NHS dentist in an area of high social deprivation and high needs. It is the high quality that myself and my staff have given patients over the last 15 years that has given my practice such a good reputation. As we are all registered with the GDC, The General Dental Council, we are committed to putting our patients’ needs first and offering quality, superb care. Because we are so dedicated to our patients we find it even more shocking that some members of the NHS at Stafford Hospital don’t share the same values that we do here at Langley Dental Group.

As the team leader, senior dentist and director of Langley Dental Group I always encourage an open and honest culture not just to my patients but also to my staff, where they should feel that they are always able to come forward without any fear of being judged, ignored or overlooked. Although there are currently doubts about the accuracy of the NHS Family and Friends Test, hopefully the results will eventually show us where the main problems in the NHS lie, in order for hospitals to be able to review the care they are offering patients and ultimately offer an outstanding, professional service, like the one here at Langley Dental Practice.

To keep up with all my latest news, be sure to follow me on twitter @TariqJDrabu

Tariq Drabu: Staff Members Take Home Award!

It is a proud day for any employer when a member of your team is praised for their work by a member of the public. It is an even prouder day when a member of your team is recognised and honoured in a public display by fellow professionals for their efforts to the profession I have held dearly for the past 27 years.

With a great sense  of pride  I am delighted to  announce that one of our dental nurse cadets took home an award at the recent regional Cadet Annual Award Ceremony held in Manchester this past week. Sarah Gorman was presented the award for being the best cadet from the Manchester Dental School for the 2012/2013 intake. 

Having worked with myself, Tariq Drabu, and the other staff at the Langley Dental Practice
over the past 12 months. we are all truly humbled to have Sarah recognised for the outstanding thought and care that she clearly puts into all of her efforts at the practice.

I personally feel that such awards should also stand as a testament to other practicing nurses and dental experts in our medical profession. After all, it is nurses like Sarah that will be the next generation of staff that help deliver vital treatment for years to come.  As medical practitioners, there is a certain level of expertise and care that the general public expect members of our profession to provide. If we are able to set and maintain a high standard of expectations amongst our practicing nurses and dental staff early on in their studies, then surely this will help maintain even higher standards for years to come. It is certainly food for thought.

In my many years I have heard quite a few  horror stories from members of the public that  have faced rude or brash staff at various hospitals and clinics throughout the UK. To me, this is simply unacceptable and it is staff like Sarah that gives me hope for the future.

Thank you for all your hard work over the past months, Sarah. It is truly appreciated!