Dentist speaks out on a sweet that is claimed to help dental health

A Middleton dentist has spoken about a new type of sweet that could aid dental health.

Tariq Drabu, of Langley Dental Practice, said there are worrying levels of poor dental hygiene in the borough.

A new sweet, which has been developed by German company Organobalance, could be the answer, but Mr Drabu is not yet convinced that it could be beneficial.

“The jury is still out on the sweet. It wouldn’t be wise to commit one way or the other at the time being.”

He is keen to point out that the traditional essentials are still vital to maintaining oral hygiene.

“It remains the case that the key to dental health is the diet, brushing of teeth and regular visits to the dentist, but the Organobalance sweet could be something that helps along the way.”

According to the NHS’ Dental Observatory, a worrying 44% of 11 year olds in the Heywood and Middleton sector have suffered some form of tooth decay and Tariq has speculated as to why the area seems to suffer from this more than most.

“It has been the case for many years. It’s linked to social deprivation and a lack of awareness really.”

“I think the overall picture for dental health is improving across the country but there are still pockets in inner-cities where there are problems. It could also possibly be linked to limited opportunities to attend dental practices.”