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 

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