The Adult Dental Health Survey 2009 reported that 36% of adults who have ever been to the dentist were classified as having moderate dental anxiety with 12% categorised as suffering from extreme dental anxiety.

At Illume we build our practice and services around trust, long term relationships and supporting you take care of your oral health in the best possible way. It’s therefore difficult to understand fully why some clients are affected in this way. However anxiety of any sort has little to do with rational thought and so it falls to us to devise ways to address this anxiety.

The first step is to find out why individual clients feel this way, in our experience it’s usually rooted in a bad previous experience. Whatever the reason, clients may put off attending a Healthy Mouth Review or examination and then worry further that they will need more treatment as they haven’t attended. It can become a vicious circle.

At Illume we believe that we have the answers to help alleviate your worries. These include:

• the long term relationships and rapport the whole team develops with our clients
• the communication that takes place between our dentists and  hygienists and clients
• the time we take to have a meaningful conversation with you ensuring you fully understand the options available before you consent to treatment
• the time we take to do the dental treatment properly
• the skills, experience and knowledge of the clinicians
• the relaxed and calm atmosphere in both our reception area and treatment rooms

If you think this is what you’re looking for please give us a call on 01242 522230 or email [email protected] to make an appointment, either for a new client consultation or to have an informal chat with one of our front of house team. We’d love to hear from you

This week thousands of children have headed back to school to start another year of education, and here at Illume we have investigated some top foods that will not only maintain good oral health but will also help to boost concentration in the classroom.

Good oral health can be achieved by brushing your teeth twice a day and by eating the right diet rich in vitamins, minerals and fresh fruit and vegetables. Coincidentally, these foods also fuel the brain and boost concentration for long periods, ideal for those first few weeks back at school.

Practice Owner Tim Rumney comments, “It is no secret that children enjoy sugary foods like sweets, chocolate and cakes, however packing their lunch boxes full with treats causes more harm than good. Not only do high levels of refined sugar cause dental decay and contribute to gum disease, it can also affect concentration – resulting in bursts of hyperactivity followed by acute reductions in blood sugar levels.”

Dental experts have found that for those with a sweet tooth it is not so much the amount of sugar consumed, but rather how often it is eaten - suggesting sweet treats should be limited to meal times to balance acid with alkaline foods.

Tim continues, “For your oral health it is always better to eat sweeter or more acidic foods with alkaline foods to balance the effect on your teeth. This also works for brain activity and helps to assist a slower release of energy, particularly if the alkaline food is a protein – which has been proven to slow down the release of sugar from carbohydrates.”

As a family run business, Illume understands the pressures of providing ‘healthy’ foods for lunchboxes. Therefore, the team has compiled a list of top 10 foods and snacks ideal for maintaining good oral health and concentration levels at school this year:

1. Raw carrot, cucumber & pepper sticks
2. Wholegrain pittas with protein based filling such as tuna, eggs or cheese. Eggs and tuna also contain omega-3 to boost brain power!
3. Unsalted or unsweetened nuts like almonds
4. Breadsticks
5. Savoury flapjacks
6. Cheese chunks
7. Blueberries, raspberries & strawberries cure a sweet tooth and are low in acid
8. Unsweetened popcorn
9. Oatcakes and hummus
10. Low sugar yoghurt or fromage frais

For further information about the benefits of healthy eating for improved oral health or to book a dental or hygienist appointment please contact the practice directly on 01242 522230.

On Wednesday 17th September 2014, Cheltenham based dental practice, Illume, will be teaming up with Maggie’s Cancer Care to host a free mouth cancer screening clinic in support of Mouth Cancer Awareness Day 2014.

As the only practice in Cheltenham accredited by the Mouth Cancer Foundation under the Mouth Cancer Screening Accreditation Scheme (MCSAS), Illume is keen to help increase public awareness of mouth cancer and the importance of early detection for successful treatment of the disease.

The free screening clinic will be taking place between 12pm and 3pm on 17th September, providing all members of the local community with the opportunity to find out more about mouth cancer, undergo thorough screening for the condition and speak to Graham of Maggie’s Cancer Care, who will be on hand to offer support and advice throughout this time.

Practice Owner, Tim Rumney, comments “Here at Illume we are extremely proud of both our accreditation under the MCSAS and our ability to offer thorough mouth cancer screening to all clients either as part of our Healthy Mouth Review service or under our ‘2 minutes to save a life’ free mouth cancer screening scheme.

“By hosting a dedicated screening clinic we hope to remind the local community of our free screening scheme, and highlight the importance of reporting any sinister symptoms as soon as possible - such as ulcers, sores or lumps anywhere in the mouth which have not healed after three weeks.”

Tim continues, “With a survival rate of only 50%, Mouth Cancer can be a devastating condition, as many people fail to report symptoms until they are at an advanced stage. As a result we encourage all our clients to attend regular screening appointments to ensure any suspected cases are detected early, significantly improving their chances of survival.”

As part of its continued commitment to the Mouth Cancer Foundation, Illume is also participating in the charity’s annual 10km walk, which is taking place in Hyde Park, London, on Saturday 20th September 2014.

To gain as much support as possible, Tim Rumney and Non Clinical Director Alison Rumney have gathered a team of staff members to take part in the event, including Practice Coordinator and Registered Dental Nurse Clare Pollard, Dental Hygienist Leanne Hobbs, Registered Dental Nurse Lucy Edwards and Associate Dentist David Barrett.

To sponsor Team Illume for its charity walk and to help them reach their £1,000 fund-raising target for the Mouth Cancer Foundation please donate at: http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/Illume

Alternatively, for further information about Illume’s free mouth cancer screening service or to book an appointment for the drop in clinic please contact the practice directly on 01242 522230.