Everyone wants a killer smile, with pink gums, fresh breath and perfectly formed, shiny white teeth.
And while many enjoy optimum oral health, others are less fortunate, suffering from a variety of dental problems that leave teeth rotting, gums bleeding and a smile that is not so dazzling.
According to Dr Khalid F Al Ameri, specialist orthodontist at Abu Dhabi’s Healthpoint Hospital, the five most common oral problems in the UAE are dental caries or decay, periodontal (gum) disease, tartar build-up, loose teeth and stains.
“These are mostly caused by lack of dental education,” says Al Ameri. “Stopping bad habits such as smoking and consuming a lot of sugary foods and drinks will help prevent these conditions.”
Sugary food in particular causes dental caries, or tooth decay, which according to the World Health Organization is a major oral-health problem in most countries, with 60 to 90 per cent of schoolchildren and nearly 100 per cent of adults worldwide experiencing dental cavities.
Tooth decay occurs when sucrose reacts with bacteria in the dental biofilm, producing acid, which leads to a loss of calcium and phosphate from the enamel.
“The process is called demineralisation,” says Al Ameri, who recommends brushing and flossing at least twice a day to minimise the production of acid.
He also urges people to visit a dentist at least once every six months to reduce the risk of periodontal diseases, caused by tartar and plaque accumulation.
“These range from simple gum inflammation to serious disease that results in major damage to the soft tissue and the bone that supports the teeth. In the worst cases, teeth are lost,” he adds.
Whether your gum disease stops, slows or worsens depends on how well you care for your teeth, both in terms of cleaning and what you put into your mouth.
Certain foods not only cause gum disease and tooth decay but also lead to unsightly stains. You may want to think twice the next time you reach for soy sauce, berries, black tea and coffee, as they have all been proven to discolour teeth. So, too, have curry, cola and red fruit juices.
“Acidic foods and beverages or extreme changes of hot and cold can cause teeth pores to expand, which can allow food to penetrate and stains to appear,” says Al Ameri. “Avoiding or limiting these foods is one way to protect against staining.”
Smoking increases the chances of gum disease and causes teeth discolouration. Al Ameri says children with a diet high in sugar face increased risks, too.
Despite efforts to fight dental disease, it remains a global issue, with disadvantaged population groups experiencing higher rates of problems, according to the WHO. The organisation also states that approximately 30 per cent of people between the ages of 65 and 74 have no natural teeth.
In the UAE, dental education has increased dramatically in the past 20 years. Oral health programmes, international dental conferences and a higher number of public healthcare centres are helping to inform residents about dental problems.
“The UAE is one of the leading countries in the Middle East for dental education,” says Al Ameri. “I think we have an excellent level of dental care as we constantly strive to standardise dental services.”
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The%20specs
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UAE SQUAD
Omar Abdulrahman (Al Hilal), Ali Khaseif, Ali Mabkhout, Salem Rashed, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Zayed Al Ameri, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Khalid Essa, Ahmed Barman, Ryan Yaslam, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmin (Al Wasl), Adel Al Hosani, Ali Hassan Saleh, Majed Suroor (Sharjah), Ahmed Khalil, Walid Abbas, Majed Hassan, Ismail Al Hammadi (Shabab Al Ahli), Hassan Al Muharrami, Fahad Al Dhahani (Bani Yas), Mohammed Al Shaker (Ajman)
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Earth under attack: Cosmic impacts throughout history
- 4.5 billion years ago: Mars-sized object smashes into the newly-formed Earth, creating debris that coalesces to form the Moon
- 66 million years ago: 10km-wide asteroid crashes into the Gulf of Mexico, wiping out over 70 per cent of living species – including the dinosaurs.
- 50,000 years ago: 50m-wide iron meteor crashes in Arizona with the violence of 10 megatonne hydrogen bomb, creating the famous 1.2km-wide Barringer Crater
- 1490: Meteor storm over Shansi Province, north-east China when large stones “fell like rain”, reportedly leading to thousands of deaths.
- 1908: 100-metre meteor from the Taurid Complex explodes near the Tunguska river in Siberia with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima-type bombs, devastating 2,000 square kilometres of forest.
- 1998: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks apart and crashes into Jupiter in series of impacts that would have annihilated life on Earth.
-2013: 10,000-tonne meteor burns up over the southern Urals region of Russia, releasing a pressure blast and flash that left over 1600 people injured.
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Mubalada World Tennis Championship 2018 schedule
Thursday December 27
Men's quarter-finals
Kevin Anderson v Hyeon Chung 4pm
Dominic Thiem v Karen Khachanov 6pm
Women's exhibition
Serena Williams v Venus Williams 8pm
Friday December 28
5th place play-off 3pm
Men's semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Anderson/Chung 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Thiem/Khachanov 7pm
Saturday December 29
3rd place play-off 5pm
Men's final 7pm
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
