Congratulations to our client John Hawthornthwaite who won a case of wine at our recent Open Evening. He came to collect it just in time for the run up to Christmas. Cheers!

Illume held a very successful Open Evening on Tuesday 10th November to welcome Simon Gumbley to the team. His clients were invited to come and meet him ahead of their first appointment over a glass of wine.

Simon starts with us on Monday 30th November and we are really looking forward to him joining our team.

If you or friends or family are looking for a new dentist in Cheltenham please give us a call to book a New Client Consultation. We’d love to welcome you.

L-R: Cheltenham dentists Simon Gumbley, Tim Rumney and Adrian Jones

We were delighted to welcome clients to our Open Evening, held at Illume on Tuesday 10th November.

It was a great opportunity for clients to meet our new dentist, Simon Gumbley ahead of their first appointment with him. Simon starts on Monday 30th November. There was lots of good wine, delicious cheese and interesting chat.

We also took portraits of a dozen Illume clients who had their make up done by Emily Tarrant and hair by Jemma Powell of Jane and Co, High St, Prestbury, before being photographed. Look out for them appearing around Illume very soon.

Please visit our facebook page to see photographs taken on the night.

According to a recent BBC report regarding a study issued by the British Journal of Sports Medicine, professional footballers have ‘worryingly poor’ teeth in comparison to the rest of the UK population.

Co-ordinated by dentists from the International Centre for Evidence-Based Oral Health, 187 players from different UK based football clubs took part in the study – where the following key findings were reported:

• 53% had dental erosion
• 45% were bothered by the state of their teeth
• 7% advised their oral health affected their ability to train or play

Nutrition is considered to be the primary suspect for these results, with athletes reporting frequent consumption of sugary and acidic foods before and after training sessions.

Owner and Clinical Director of Illume in Cheltenham, Tim Rumney, says, “With some energy drinks containing more sugar in one serving than the recommended daily allowance, it is not that surprising that some athletes may be more prone to oral health problems when compared to the general population. All athletes and people in general should very carefully monitor the frequency of their consumption of sports drinks and make sure they stay well hydrated.

“What is shocking, however, is that they do not take the time to visit their dentist to correct issues like decay, which could easily affect their ability to perform by progressing to more serious conditions including dental abscesses.”

It may seem a little strange that young men with significant disposable incomes aren’t keen on spending some of their money on maintaining oral health and good teeth, but Illume is not overly surprised by this finding.

Tim comments, “Young men can often be reluctant to part with their money on something as seemingly boring as looking after their teeth, but our experience shows that a bit of effort when issues first arise can make a vast difference to the outcome of a situation – as one client told us recently when discussing an implant he’d had.

“What started out as a relatively minor chip, escalated into a more serious issue resulting in an implant because he delayed seeking treatment.”

One of the researchers involved in the study, Prof. Ian Needleman, confirmed to the BBC that clubs were giving dental health a "higher priority" and were focused on educating their players about the importance of maintaining good oral health.

Tim continues, “Here at Illume we work closely with all of our clients to ensure they understand the importance of a good oral health routine, and the impact bad oral health can have on their overall health and well-being.

“Aside from regular dental appointments, clients also have the opportunity to visit our resident hygienists to discuss any concerns they may have regarding their oral health.”

Follow this link to find out why investing in your teeth now can pay dividends in the longer term.

Illume’s dedicated team has issued the following top five tips to help all clients and local Gloucestershire residents improve their oral health:

• Brush your teeth before you eat in the morning – brushing too soon after eating actually weakens the enamel! Wait at least 30 minutes after eating, before you brush
• Floss daily in order to aid removal of bacteria between your teeth
• Avoid snacking between meals
• Don’t rinse your teeth with water or mouthwash straight after brushing as it will dilute the protective fluoride from the toothpaste
• Ensure you visit your dentist on a regular basis, at least every six months unless advised otherwise.

If you have any questions or concerns about your oral health and would like to book a healthy mouth review, please call the practice directly on 01242 522230.

Cheltenham’s renowned Fashion Week is back with a bang, and this year will be taking place between Monday 23rd and Saturday 28th November. 

However, as we start to think about what styles and trends will be displayed by Cheltenham’s young designers and some of the town’s most popular fashion boutiques, has anyone spared a thought for the importance of great looking teeth? 

At Cheltenham dental practice Illume, dentists take the time to talk to clients about their smile and how improvements can be made, sometimes quite simply.

Practice Owner and Clinical Director, Tim Rumney, explains, “As the old saying goes ‘it takes 42 muscles to frown, but only 17 to smile’ - yet so many of our clients tell us that they do not feel completely happy with their smile when they first come to Illume.

“By using our smile check and photographs we work closely with our clients to assess what they do or do not like about their smile, and then create a treatment plan to achieve their desired outcome. There are a range of treatments including minor smoothing and recontouring, tooth coloured resin bonding and fillings, whitening, straightening and porcelain veneers and crowns. So many clients are amazed by the results and how much of an impact it can have on improving their confidence.”

It is important to note that by law tooth whitening should only be carried out by a registered dental professional. Illume uses a well-researched technique using materials proven to be both efficient and safe, and advises strongly against going to whitening clinics or purchasing potentially unsafe and damaging materials from the internet. 

Tim continues, “It is against the law for anyone other than dental professionals registered with the GDC to provide tooth whitening services, to ensure the safety and protection of the general public. Here at Illume we use a painless and proven technique that guarantees great results which can really improve a client’s confidence in their smile.”

A prime example is local Medical Photographer, Sophie Musson, who was generally pleased with her teeth, but wanted them to be a bit brighter to ensure she felt confident in dealing with the general public. Hear what she had to say about Illume’s Tooth Whitening service by visiting our YouTube channel.

So when flicking through the latest fashion magazines or considering that Autumn/Winter re-style or wardrobe revamp, why not incorporate a trip to the dentist as well - there really is nothing more on trend than an attractive and confident smile!

For more details about Illume’s tooth whitening and/or tooth straightening services please contact the practice directly on 01242 522230 for a free consultation.