It is all too easy to neglect dental health, but as with most things in life – prevention is better than cure.  Teeth help us to consume food, chew, and aid in communication.  A healthy smile is a confident smile, so here Tavistock shares their top tips to avoid oral health problems:

1. Brush twice daily to prevent decay, gum disease and bad breath. Preferably brush after breakfast and before bedtime, for a full 2 minutes, moving to a different quadrant of the mouth every 30 seconds.
2. Use a good quality fluoride toothpaste and - if possible - an electric toothbrush.
3. Change your toothbrush (or the head on your electric brush) every 3 months.
4. Spit – don’t rinse. This allows the fluoride more time to be effective.
5. Use floss or the correct sized interdental brush every day.
6. Visit your dentist every six months and your hygienist every 3-6 months as advised.
7. Avoid snacking on sugary foods, or try to restrict them to straight after mealtimes.
8. Pass on good habits: teach your children good oral hygiene as soon as possible, supervise brushing until at least age seven, and get them in to see the dentist as soon as their first tooth appears.

Tavistock can help.  We can show you how best to brush your teeth and give you specific advice on what is best for your personal oral hygiene routine.  Request an appointment now.

On Saturday 17^th May our lovely Receptionist Sarah completed the Walk to Walk Marathon (26.2 Miles) for Breast Cancer in 9hours and 4mins. She would like to thank every single patient and staff member who sponsored her and is happy to say she raised £645 which Tavistock House is also very kindly donation matching which brings the grand total to £1290 which is an amazing amount of money.

We have now invested in some new toothbrushes and interdental brushes that are Eco Friendly.

Toothbrushes - are plastic-free, with a biodegradable handle.

Interdental brushes - are sustainable and biodegradable, each pack has a variety of different sizes in to suit all needs.

On Monday 24^th March all of the Tavistock Team took part in a refresher for Basic Life Support Training.

They are all now retrained in CPR and using the defibrillator if required.

We are an “Invisalign GO” practice as Henrietta has completed her certification to become an Invisalign GO provider.

This is a system which uses clear plastic aligners which focusses on your front teeth and gradually move them into a more aesthetic position.

Using up to 20 aligners, in many cases treatment can be completed in as little as 6 months!

We are running low on books for our charity bookcases.

If you have any used books you would be able to donate to us we would really appreciate them.

Please pop them to reception either on your next visit or when able to.

Many thanks from the Tavistock Team!

Most of us understand how important it is to brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, there is more mystery surrounding flossing.

Flossing is a common method of “interdental cleaning” which means cleaning between the teeth.  It helps to remove debris and plaque that can be hard to remove with a regular toothbrush.  An increasingly popular alternative to floss are “interdental brushes” – handheld toothbrushes designed specifically for use between the teeth.

Tavistock House Dental Practice recommend their adult patients perform interdental cleaning daily.  Recent research has also demonstrated that interdental cleaning before brushing is the best way to clean our teeth effectively.

The study found that flossing loosens bacteria and food debris from between the teeth, which allows brushing to be much more successful at removing plaque.

Dr Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation, believes the findings of the study illustrate why it is so important to make interdental cleaning part of our daily routine.

Dr Carter says: “While brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste is absolutely essential for a good oral health routine, this study shows that interdental cleaning also has a big part to play when it comes to keeping our teeth and gums healthy.

The Oral Health Foundation’s Guide to Interdental Brushing

Interdental brushes come in a range of different sizes, from as thin as 0.4mm to as thick as 1.5mm. Whichever one you use should fit between your teeth snugly but comfortably; you shouldn’t have to use much force. You may find you need to use a couple of different sizes, but the best way to find out is to ask your dentist or hygienist the next time you have an appointment.

1. Hold the interdental brush between your thumb and forefinger.
2. Gently place the brush through the gap between your teeth – don’t force the brush through the gap.
3. Brush in and out of each space between your teeth.

Tavistock Top Tip!

Using a small amount of fluoride toothpaste or Corsodyl gel on the Interdental brush and “pre-bending” it will help it glide between your teeth and stop it catching.

If you have any questions or would like assistance looking after your oral health, Tavistock House can help – call us on 01296 481615 or alternatively request an appointment here.

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^{Mazhari F & Boskababy M et al. (2018) The effect of toothbrushing and flossing sequence on interdental plaque reduction and fluoride retention: A randomized controlled clinical trial. Wiley: Journal of Periodontology. 2018 Jul;89(7):824-832}