With Stoptober coming back for a fifth year this October, Illume is encouraging clients and other members of the community to take this opportunity to quit smoking for good.

Some 2.5 million smokers took part in the challenge last year and, out of these, 500,000 people (20%) were successful in quitting which made Stoptober 2015 the most successful yet.

Practice owner and clinical director at Illume, Tim Rumney says: “I was delighted to see recently released Public Health England figures showing that the smoking rate in England has fallen to below 17% for the first time.

“Smoking causes teeth to become very stained and need a lot more cleaning but it is much more serious than that. Smoking is a major risk factor for developing gum disease and mouth cancer.

“In fact, figures from the Mouth Cancer Foundation show that in 75% of oral cancer cases in the UK smoking is a factor, so it is worth doing all you can to give up,” he added.

Last year Stoptober saw more than one million people (1,027,000) use an e-cigarette in a quit attempt while around 700,000 used a licensed nicotine replacement product such as patches or gum. 

Tim added: “Whatever method people choose, I would just encourage them to be part of this year’s Stoptober which starts on October 1 and is based on research that by the time you have quit for 28 days you are five times more likely to stop for good.

“I know it can be difficult to stop smoking but Stoptober also offers a lot of extra support with celebrities such as Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood, also joining the effort to kick the habit,” he added.

To find out more about Stoptober please visit https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/stoptober

Illume also offers a Healthy Mouth Review where all clients will be screened for gum disease and signs of mouth cancer and other diseases of the soft tissues of your mouth (tongue, cheeks, lips, palate and floor of mouth). 

Please contact the practice today on 01242 522230 to make an appointment. 

New research published has cast doubt on the commonly held belief that dried fruit is bad for your dental health because of the concentrated amounts of sugar it contains.

Published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, the report says that dried fruit can, in fact, have benefits for dental health.

These benefits include the fact people have to chew dried fruit – an action that encourages salivary flow, which is the mouth's own cleaning system.

Dried fruits also contain sorbitol, a substance which is known to neutralise plaque acidity on teeth as well as repair tooth enamel.

Clinical director at Illume, Tim Rumney, says: “This research is interesting in challenging the usual advice that people should avoid eating dried fruits because they are sticky, will adhere to the teeth and thus cause damage.

“Many clients find it difficult to understand why they are encouraged to eat fresh fruit but told to avoid the dried versions even though they prefer the taste and also find it more convenient because it has a longer shelf life.

“The researcher says more work is needed to establish the extent of the positive effects of eating dried fruit and I will await these findings with interest.

“In the meantime, however, the most important thing for all people to remember is that, whatever they snack on, they must brush their teeth twice a day.

“Brushing is especially essential before people go to bed because at night time saliva production slows down, leaving the mouth more at risk from decay,” he added.

According to recent research from the Oral Health Foundation, one in four people (28%) would rather buy tooth whitening kits over the internet or from beauticians than visit their dentist.

Here at Illume we find these figures shocking as they highlight the fact that many people are still not aware of the serious risks that such procedures can pose to their health, despite a wealth of publicity about the issue.

Illume practice owner and clinical director Tim Rumney says: “The fact people want their teeth to be whiter shows that they really do care about their appearance.

“This is why I really struggle to understand why so many of them are still reluctant to seek expert advice from a dentist about tooth whitening.

“The General Dental Council (GDC) has made it clear that applying materials and carrying out procedures designed to improve the aesthetic appearance of teeth amounts to the practice of dentistry, and this includes tooth whitening.

“I’m sure people wouldn’t expect a hairdresser to treat them if they wanted their nose to be straighter, so why would people believe such places can offer them safe tooth whitening?

“Even worse are those people who are buying from the Internet and have no idea who the real seller is and what the kits contain.  

“Illegal tooth whitening can lead to severe chemical burns and even permanent scarring which I am sure is not what people wishing to improve their appearance would want to happen to them.

“If such procedures are carried out by unqualified people, tooth loss can also result and it can even affect the ability of people to eat and breathe, again something I’m sure no-one would want to experience.

“So I would really like to urge people to visit their dentist if they want tooth whitening – kits may be cheaper but the long-term costs could be life-changing,” he added.

For more information about Illume’s tooth whitening procedures please visit the website.   

Illume wishes to reassure our clients and others after comments made by the chief dental officer for England about the frequency of dental check-ups.

Dr Sara Hurley, who was attending the NHS Expo conference in Manchester, said patients must challenge dentists who insist they return for a check-up every six months and added that it is a public misconception that this frequency of appointment is necessary for everyone.

Illume practice manager and clinical director Tim Rumney, says: “Here at Illume we adhere to current NICE guidelines that say the time between check-ups or Healthy Mouth Reviews, as we call them, should depend totally on the state of a client’s teeth and gums.

“This means that some of our clients will be advised to come and see us every six months, some may even have to visit the hygienist every three months and for those who have good oral heath we recommend a yearly Healthy Mouth Review which includes a Mouth Cancer Screening.

“Our dentists will always advise on what is the correct interval for Healthy Mouth Reviews depending on the individual needs of each client.

“This means we can ensure that not only are our client’s teeth staying healthy but also that any other underlying issues such as gum disease can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible to deliver the best outcome.

“You can rest assured that here at Illume, we will advise on intervals between Healthy Mouth Reviews that are right for our clients,” he added.

Current figures show that around half of adults visit a dentist every six months with almost 40 per cent paying for a private dentist.

If you would like the reassurance that a consultation and Mouth Cancer Screening with us can bring, please call us on 01242 522230.

Many of Illume’s clients already love taking selfies but did you know that they can also help to improve your oral health care techniques?

A recent study carried out by Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine that has been published in the Indian Journal of Dental Research found that recording smart phone video "selfies" resulted in an 8% improvement in tooth brushing skills.

Illume Practice owner and clinical director Tim Rumney said: “While most people have the ability, motivation and desire to brush their teeth properly, they often do not because of improper techniques and opportunities to improve such skills can be difficult to find.

“The way we brush our teeth is an ingrained habit tied to muscle memory and it can take a lot of time to change this behaviour.

“If recording selfies, as this research shows, can help people improve their brushing skills, then I would certainly advise Illume’s clients to try it. Even the act of recording a selfie may make participants more conscious and lead to improvement in how they clean their teeth.

“Brushing is the single most important activity people can carry out to ensure their oral health remains good and, looking ahead, it may even be that an app could be developed to further support people wanting to get their technique right.

“Many of our clients will have learnt to brush their teeth as a child and habits learnt at such a young age can be hard to break and we at Illume can also advise on how to improve techniques so you are removing as much harmful plaque as possible and avert preventable oral diseases, such as tooth decay and periodontal disease.

“Anything that encourages people to take an interest in the appearance and health of their teeth and gums must be a good thing.

“Clients are also welcome to bring these videos in to us at Illume so we can advise on where they may be going wrong!” he added.

Illume offers Hygiene Support Visits to all clients where our hygienists advise on all aspects of maintaining good oral hygiene. Why not call us on 01242 522230 and make an appointment now?