Tariq Drabu Dentists on Picking the Right Toothpaste for You

At the Langley Dental Practice we’re very eager to make sure that our patients, as well as the wider British public truly understand the benefits of brushing their teeth. Brushing your teeth is the best method to fight off all manner of oral conditions, from gum disease to tooth decay and beyond. Most people understand the necessity of brushing their teeth; it’s something that is taught to us right from the cradle, however how many of us understand the mechanics?

What do we mean by this? We mean that although most people understand the principle, they don’t understand the toothpaste market. The toothpaste market is a very niche healthcare segment, with only a handful companies promoting essentially the same product range. Toothpastes, although they all have a general overarching purpose and are often tailored to include multiple elements, there are still a few individual products that have their own specific purpose. Some are designed to whiten, some to fight off plaque etc. Understanding which toothpaste best suits the purpose you need it for means that you can tailor your brushing regime to fit your needs. So what are some of the different types of paste on the market?

Whitening Toothpastes

These products, despite the fact that they do act to clean, are primarily designed to whiten the teeth of the consumer that uses them. Unlike other toothpastes, these products contain abrasive agents which function by abrading the stain that has formed on the tooth’s surface. In other words the whitening effect comes from a stripping back of the surface stain. They do not often contain actual whitening agents. If you have a diet that involves a lot of coffee or tea, then this type of tooth paste would suit you, as it acts to fight the stains your teeth acquire from your daily intake.

Desensitising Toothpastes

These toothpastes are an investment for people with naturally sensitive teeth, an affliction that a large portion of the British public face. There are usually two ways these pastes provide relief from dentine hypersensitivity. Firstly they interrupt the neurone response to pain stimuli. Secondly they occlude the dentinal tubules of dentine. These two methods act to decrease tooth sensitivity through ingredients such as potassium nitrate and arginine. This is the type of toothpaste to buy if you want to indulge in the occasional ice cream cone.

Fluoride Toothpastes

This is a more general one as many types of toothpaste take advantage of this tooth friendly mineral, although not all do. Fluoride has been instrumental in fighting tooth decay and the occurrence of cavities, amongst other things. It works by tackling the acid that it released by the bacteria in your mouth that feed on the sugar and starch that remain on your teeth long after you've finished eating. It does this by first strengthening tooth enamel against acid and secondly helping fight the first stages of acid erosion by remineralising areas that have started to decay.

Of course, this is only a brief overview of three of the more generalised  types of toothpaste on the market, specifically crafted to deal with certain oral issues. If you want to find out which toothpaste is best suited for your needs then it’s best to go to your local dental specialists who can offer more personal advice as well as provide you with a more comprehensive guide to picking the right toothpaste. 

Tariq Drabu Shines a Light on Gum Disease

When it comes to oral conditions there are several, including oral cancer and tooth decay that we as a society know of, but don’t fully know about. This is something that we at Tariq Drabu Dentists think is a problem; after all, if we don’t know about the potential harm we could be inflicting on our smile, how will we ever prevent it. Knowledge is power, as the old saying goes, and right now, a fair portion of the British public could be called powerless. That’s why this week we want to shine our light on gum disease; keep reading if you want to find out how this condition can form, why it is so bad for your oral health and what can happen if it’s allowed to linger without treatment.

Gum disease, also known in popular discourse as gingivitis, is a condition where you gums become swollen, sore and infected and it’s a condition that’s actually more common than you think, with statistics revealing that up to 15-20% of the world’s population have to deal with some form of gum disease at some point in their life, and the estimation for the British population is much higher. In Britain it is estimated that half the adult population has some form of gum disease.

Symptoms of gum disease may be bleeding gums when you brush your teeth and bad breath, and this is at the earliest stages where it is still preventable. However, the condition doesn’t stop there and if gum disease is allowed to go on unchecked for a significant period of time it has a strong possibility of developing into periodontitis, a condition which affects the tissue that holds your teeth in place; this can lead to loss of teeth. If this particular condition goes untreated, it can lead to the loss of supporting bone around the teeth, which opens up space between your teeth and gums, further increasing the chance of losing your teeth.

So, now you know what gum disease can do; how do you prevent it? Well, the first thing is obvious; brush your teeth. Brushing your teeth gets rid of the products left behind on your teeth from everyday life, and prevents the build-up of plaque, a primary cause of gum disease. However, it also helps to avoid certain foods such as sugary sweets and drinks such as highly sweet carbonated soft drinks, plaque feeds on these and this can increase the risk of gum disease. It’s also important to avoid cigarettes as they carry a huge risk of the development of gum disease.

So there you have it; gum disease has many causes and many effects and it’s a disease that is not always preventable, even if you’re the picture of oral health. If the worst comes to the worst, you need to come to Tariq Drabu Dentist to get advice on how to treat it.

Tariq Drabu Zooms in on Dental Health After a Cigarette

At Tariq Drabu Dentists we act to make sure that you maintain a healthy smile for the duration of your adult life; this means we act to make sure you know what is good and what is bad for your dental health. Recently the EU has acted to pass legislation that would further restrict smoking; among other things banning 10 pack cigarettes, and as a dentist, I feel that this is very good news.

This is because, even though things like carbonated drinks and coffee are bad for your teeth, smoking is infinitely worse. The detrimental effects of smoking on your oral health are numerous and persistent, and you have to be aware of them. Check out all the reasons how cigarettes can damage your mouth below.

Discolouration… Tobacco and the chemicals in cigarettes as well as the tar and nicotine can have a huge impact on the colour of your teeth; it can literally turn them yellow. Anybody who has seen the teeth of a long term smoker will know just how strong this discolouration is, as heavy smokers will often see them turn brown.

Oral Cancer… The idea that smoking can cause cancer is a persistent one, that’s because it can. However, it’s not just lung cancer as smoking can carry a serious risk of developing oral cancer as well.

Gum Disease… The chemicals in cigarettes, as well as the tar can carry a serious risk of gum disease as they attack the gums on a constant basis; in the worst cases this can lead to bleeding gums and even tooth loss. Smoking can also affect blood flow to the gums, which complicates the healing process.

Leukoplakia… This is a condition where white patches develop on the tongue and in the mouth and is caused by irritation of the mucous membranes in the mouth. It can lead to further oral problems and can easily be caused by smoking, as smoking increases the risk of developing the condition. Some leukoplakias are in fact pre cancerous.

Bad Breath… Do we really have to explain this one? Smoking plays havoc on your breath, it literally smells like an ashtray; and can seriously affect your social life, as well as your standing at work; who wants to be around someone with ash breath?

Plaque… Hardly desirable, plaque tend to build up on the teeth due to unhealthy habits, and not only is it unattractive, it can lead to the development of many oral problems, such as tooth decay. Smoking increases the accumulation of plaque and brushing your teeth can only keep this form of plaque at bay for so long.

So there you have it, there are six of the top reasons why smoking causes significant harm to your oral and dental health. It is important to note two things here. Firstly, these aren’t the only problems, there are many more. Secondly, nicotine is the cause of some of these problems, so don’t think switching to an E-Cigarette is going to reduce the risk of all of them; however since most of these problems are primarily caused by the chemicals and tar in cigarettes, E-Cigarettes are a step in the right direction.

Tariq Drabu Dentist’s on How to Handle Dental Fees

Being a parent is the hardest job in the world. You have so much on your plate, balancing your kids, your work and actually having your own personal life, that it can all feel like a bit too much sometimes. That’s particularly true when it comes to balancing the household books. Families, especially single parent families, have it the worst financially. Between new clothes, school supplies, food etc. kids cost a lot of money. Adding in Dentist fees for that can be an actual nightmare, and can be the payment to break the financial camel’s back.

That’s why you can get dental treatment on the NHS. Our National Health Service, whatever else you say about it, is one of the best in the world. Britain is one of the few countries who recognises that there are people in society, that, for one reason or another, need a little bit of help every now and the. That’s why if you go to an NHS Dentist, you can get top treatment and actually have enough left over to make sure your kids get everything they need.

By and large, you can get most basic dental treatments on the NHS, although you should get the advice of your dentist just to make sure. However, some things aren’t covered or are only partially covered by the NHS. When thinking about all of this, you first have to make sure that your dentist is like Tariq Drabu, and takes on NHS patients. You must explicitly state to your dentist that you want NHS treatment when you make an appointment, before you actually go in.  Then when you actually go in for your appointment, you will have to fill out the appropriate form. But first you need to know, do you qualify for NHS treatment. If you fulfill the following criteria, then you can get dental treatment in the NHS - this is not a totally exhaustive list:

-       If you are under the age of 18

-       If you are under 19 and over but you are in full time education

-       If you are pregnant, or have delivered a baby at least 12 months prior to treatment

-       If you are an NHS in-patient and treatment is administered by the hospital dentist

-       If you or your partner receives one of the following: income support, income based jobseeker’s allowance, income related Employment and Support allowance or Pension Credit Guarantee Credit

-       If you are entitled to, or named on, a valid NHS tax credit exemption certificate

-       If you fall into the low income brackets that quality for NHS (check NHS website for details on whether you fall into this category)

So parents, there you have it. Of course, not all the above criteria will apply to you, but for families, there is always a way to reduce the cost of dental treatment through the NHS.

For all the latest news on Tariq Drabu Dentist, head on over to the Tariq Drabu Twitter @TariqJDrabu - Or www.tariqdrabu.co.uk