Mouth Cancer Action Month is a charity campaign which aims to raise awareness of mouth cancer and save lives by promoting the values of prevention and early detection.

The campaign is about making everybody more mouth aware and in November, we will be highlighting the risk factors and signs and symptoms associated with the disease.

By communicating the causes of mouth cancer, we can encourage healthier lifestyles and reduce the number of people diagnosed with the disease.  It is also important that we can recognise the early warning signs so that we can act on any unusual changes in the mouth as soon as possible.

The importance of Mouth Cancer Action Month

In the UK, more than 8.300 people were diagnosed with mouth cancer last year and globally there are in excess of 300,000 new cases every year.

The number of people being diagnosed with mouth cancer has grown by around a third in the last decade and remains one of very few cancers which are predicted to increase further in the coming years.

Although risk factors (such as smoking and alcohol) are responsible for many mouth cancers, it is a disease that can affect anyone.

That is why it is so important we all know what to look out for.

• Don’t leave a mouth ulcer unattended for more than three weeks.

• Don’t ignore any unusual lumps or swellings or red and white patches in your mouth.

• Regularly check your own mouth, lips, cheeks, head and neck for anything out of the ordinary.

Visit mouthcancer.org

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 Tuesday  8^th October 2024 we said goodbye and good luck to our lovely hygienist Liz Melton, who has sadly left us.

Liz has been working at Tavistock House since the 12^th January 2021 and will be missed by staff and patients alike.

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