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}

We are pleased to announce that Tavistock House has recently donated used IT equipment to The Turing Trust.

The Turing Trust is a charity that refurbishes IT equipment and provides educational software to students in the greatest need. By donating our used IT equipment, we are helping to reduce electronic waste and make a positive impact on the environment.

The Turing Trust confirmed on 31st July that the equipment arrived safely. These computers will go on to help over 100 students and their reuse will offset more than 2 tonnes of CO2. This is the equivalent of planting 4 trees!

We are proud to support the work of The Turing Trust and their mission to bridge the digital divide. To learn more about The Turing Trust and their work in the UK, visit https://turingtrust.co.uk/our-work/the-uk/

In 2013, for the safety of the general public, the High Court confirmed that only dental professionals may legally carry out tooth whitening, therefore reinforcing the GDC position that tooth whitening is the practice of dentistry and can only safely and legally be offered by registered dental professionals in the case of GDC v Jamous [2013] EWHC 1428. This is regardless of the products used, as any form of prescribed whitening fall under the umbrella of dental treatment and not "merely cosmetic treatment".  Read more here.

You may have recently seen articles in the press regarding numerous prosecutions against unqualified individuals and companies carrying this out illegally and (being without the correct training and knowlege of dental professsionals) potentially dangerously.

There are many risks involved in the unqualified or inexperienced performing whitening such as major damage to the teeth, gums as well as other parts of the mouth, in addition to, allergic reactions, and severe burns.

The good news is that there is no need to take such risks. Tavistock House's professional tooth whitening service is tailored to your personal requirements and is always subject to a prior no-obligation assessment to ensure suitability. This assessment is carried out free of charge to our patients.

Tavistock offers a full-service including Philips Zoom whitening and a customised home-whitening kit, or alternatively a home kit only.  Depending on individual tooth colours different treatments respond better to one or other type of whitening.

Request appointmentMore about tooth whitening

Further reading

More Zoom whitening pictures

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-46427500

https://www.dentalhealth.org/news/increased-fines-prove-that-illegal-tooth-whitening-does-not-pay

The practice at 77 Tring Road, was formerly known simply as “The Dental Practice” and opened its doors as the renamed Tavistock House on Wednesday 19th December 1973.

Tavistock House changed ownership in 2008 and now, 50 years on from the initial name change, thanks to our wonderful patients, we are still here and continue to provide services across the whole spectrum of dentistry (as per the original owners’ vision).

Dentistry has changed a lot over the years -we can diagnose and treat disease that decades ago couldn’t be treated, using techniques and materials that hadn’t even been dreamt of at the time. Management of periodontal disease, implants and cosmetic dentistry were years away when Tavistock House first opened, although we were the first practice in the area to employ a full-time hygienist -unheard of at the time!

The thing that has remained constant is the continued support of our patients -we are treating 3rd and 4th generations of the same families now. We feel it is a real privilege that we are trusted to look after our patients and their families, and we take that responsibility very seriously.

We would like to say a big thank you to all our patients for recommending us to their friends and families, and for entrusting themselves to our care. We will continue to listen and remain self-critical so that we can stay ahead of the game and maintain the best service to our patients.

We will, of course, continue to offer check ups and the full range of treatments privately for children at the practice; referrals for orthodontic treatment will be made in the usual manner, where and when appropriate, and without charge. If your child would have been eligible for orthodontic treatment on the NHS prior to the switchover, they will still be eligible for NHS orthodontic treatment, going forward.

Our fees for private check up appointments for children will be as follows;

Child 0-6 yrs old (10 minute examination appointment) £15.00

Child 7-17 yrs old (20 minute examination appointment) £27.00

Any treatment needed will be advised & costs given at the end of the check-up appointment in the usual way.

Alternatively, if you would prefer your child to continue to be treated under the NHS at another practice, you can try searching for local NHS practices at https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-dentist, or alternately call 111 in the case of a dental emergency.

Thank you for your understanding with this matter.

We look forward to seeing you again at the practice soon!

The Team at Tavistock House

We wanted to thank our patients for their continued support as we have been able to give the Florence Nightingale Hospice £75.

This has only been possible from the donations made by patients for the books in our downstairs waiting room.

Next time you are in for a check-up or treatment please come and have a browse of our lovely selection of books that can be taken away with only a £1 donation.

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.

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!