Elsewhere, our dentists Paarth, Minal and Ronit, and our practice manager Elena recently attended a training course, focused on improving clinical and communication skills.

Over many years, we’ve learned just how critical good communication is – in many ways it’s just as important as the dental work – and that’s why we’re always looking for ways to improve in that area.

As members of the MiSmile network, we aim to help as many patients as possible to get the smile they want with Invisalign, and we recently received a gift to commemorate the fact that we placed number 5 in the UK, out of a select 120 dental practices.

Last but by no means least, we all understand the importance of recycling, and we’re also aware that in the dental world, a lot has traditionally been thrown away, when it should be recycled.

 We’re doing our bit to try and fix that, which is why I’m delighted to announce a partnership with Phillips, which allows us to recycle used dental products.  There’s a box located in the practice entrance, which you’re welcome to use and tell family and friends about, even if they aren’t Brightside patients.

Right, that’s all for now – back next week!

Ketan

It’s become a bit of a minefield in choosing the best toothpaste for your needs as there are so many different types in the shops. There are four types that you’re likely to come across: cavity fighters, gum guardians, sensitivity soothers, and smile brighteners. We’ll uncover what makes them tick and how they can help you.

What toothpaste does (main functions):

Plaque Control – The Defender of Oral Health

One of the critical roles of toothpaste is in controlling dental plaque. Plaque, a major culprit in tooth decay and gum disease, needs regular removal. We recommend toothpastes with effective plaque-fighting ingredients, like sodium lauryl sulfate and antibacterial agents, to keep your teeth clean and healthy.

Cavity Protection – The Shield for Your Teeth

Fluoride-rich toothpaste is your best friend for preventing cavities. It strengthens tooth enamel and helps reverse early signs of tooth decay. Consistent use of fluoride toothpaste is a cornerstone of preventive dental care, something we strongly advocate for all our patients.

Now, let’s explore the four main types of toothpaste and see how they work their magic.

Cavity Protection Toothpastes

How it works: Your everyday, go to, toothpaste. The secret weapon here is fluoride. It is excellent for those who are prone to cavities and stopping them early in their tracks. Fluoride is fantastic at toughening up your tooth enamel. It’s like giving your teeth a shield to fend off those cavity-causing baddies.

Who It’s For: Anyone who wants to keep their teeth strong and free from cavities can benefit from this toothpaste.

Example Products: Oral B Pro- expert, Colgate Total

Gum (Periodontal) Disease Toothpastes

How It Works: Specialised for combating gum disease, it often has special ingredients like triclosan and stannous fluoride. They have been clinically proven to have an antimicrobial effect. These ingredients target bacteria and reduce gum inflammation which is crucial for maintaining optimal gum health.

Who It’s for: Individuals with a history of gum disease, ongoing gum inflammation, or those looking to proactively protect their gum health can benefit from gum disease protection toothpaste.

Example Products: Corsodyl Toothpaste, Colgate Total Advanced Gum Care

Sensitivity Toothpastes

How It Works: Sensitive teeth can be a real buzzkill, especially when you’re enjoying hot coffee or ice cream. Unleash the sensitivity toothpaste! It has ingredients like potassium nitrate or strontium chloride that block tiny tubes in your teeth, so those bothersome sensations are muted. For them to be effective they need to be used consistently, ideally for a period of 2 weeks for you to really notice its effects.

Who It’s For: If you cringe at the thought of cold drinks, hot foods or even sweet foods (not that we should be having too many of them!!) this toothpaste might save the day for your sensitive teeth.

Example Products: Sensodyne Rapid Relief, Oral B Pro Expert Sensitive, Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief

Whitening Toothpastes

How It Works: Everyone dreams of a dazzling, white smile. Whitening toothpaste contains mild abrasives and chemical agents that help remove surface stains from teeth. These toothpaste types may also contain hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, which are mild bleaching agents. However, it’s essential to temper expectations; whitening toothpaste can brighten teeth to some extent (as they remove staining) but won’t provide the dramatic results of professional teeth whitening treatments. Moreover, the regular use of them can lead to sensitivity issues, due to the abrasive agents that are in them wearing away your enamel over time.

Who Benefits: Whitening toothpaste is ideal for individuals looking to maintain or enhance the whiteness of their teeth. It’s suitable for those with mild surface stains but may not be effective for deep-intrinsic discoloration. In addition to this, regular use is not advised.

Example Product: Oral B Desensify Gentle Whitening toothpaste

Picking Your Perfect Toothpaste:

Choosing the right toothpaste is crucial for your dental health. At Brightside Dental, we’re committed to guiding you through this choice. Remember, the best toothpaste is one that caters to your unique oral health needs. Schedule a consultation with us to find your perfect match and keep your smile bright and healthy!

Remember, no matter which toothpaste you choose, how you brush is just as important. Brush gently for at least two minutes, twice a day, and swap out your toothbrush/ toothbrush heads regularly (Click here to read our recent blog about electric toothbrushes). 

In the end, toothpaste isn’t just about keeping your breath fresh; it’s about keeping your smile shining and healthy. So, next time you squeeze a bit of that magical gel onto your toothbrush, know that you’re not just brushing – you’re giving your smile the love and care it deserves.

Dr Paarth Darbar BDS (Hons)

Oral hygiene is an essential aspect of maintaining good health. While many people may understand the importance of brushing and flossing, the type of tools you use can significantly impact your overall dental health.

The Importance of Brushing: Brushing your teeth is a fundamental step in maintaining oral health. It serves several crucial purposes:

• Plaque Removal: Plaque, a soft, sticky film of bacteria, constantly forms on your teeth. Brushing helps remove this plaque, preventing it from hardening into tartar, which can lead to gum disease and cavities.
• Cavity Prevention: Brushing with fluoride toothpaste strengthens tooth enamel and helps prevent tooth decay.
• Gum Health: Proper brushing reduces the risk of gum disease by removing bacteria and food particles that can cause inflammation and infection.
• Fresh Breath: Brushing your tongue and the roof of your mouth, in addition to your teeth, helps combat bad breath by eliminating odor-causing bacteria.
• Overall Health: Emerging research suggests a link between oral health and overall health, with poor oral hygiene potentially contributing to conditions like heart disease and diabetes.

Now that we understand the importance of brushing, let’s delve into how electric toothbrushes can elevate your oral hygiene routine.

The Advantages of Electric Toothbrushes Electric toothbrushes offer several advantages over traditional manual brushes:

• Efficiency: Electric toothbrushes typically have a rotating or oscillating head that covers more surface area and cleans teeth more effectively than manual brushing.
• Built-in Timers: Many electric toothbrushes come with built-in timers to ensure you brush for the recommended two minutes, helping you maintain a consistent routine.
• Pressure Sensors: Some electric toothbrushes have pressure sensors to alert you if you’re brushing too hard, reducing the risk of damaging your gums and enamel.
• Ease of Use: Electric toothbrushes are often more comfortable for people with limited dexterity, such as children and the elderly.
• Variety of Brush Heads: You can choose from a variety of brush head options designed for specific needs, such as sensitive teeth, braces, or gum health.
• Consistency: Electric toothbrushes provide a more consistent brushing motion, reducing the likelihood of uneven cleaning.

Proper Brushing Techniques Regardless of whether you use a manual or electric toothbrush, proper brushing techniques are essential for effective cleaning:

• Angle Matters: Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line to clean the area where your teeth meet your gums.
• Use Gentle Pressure: Don’t scrub vigorously. Instead, use gentle pressure and let the bristles do the work.
• Circular Motion: Brush in a gentle circular motion rather than back-and-forth, as it is more effective at removing plaque.
• Two-Minute Rule: Brush for a full two minutes to ensure thorough cleaning. Some electric toothbrushes have timers to help you with this.
• Brush All Surfaces: Brush the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of your teeth, and don’t forget your tongue and the roof of your mouth.

Recommended Electric Toothbrushes: Oral-B

When it comes to choosing an electric toothbrush, Oral-B is a brand that consistently delivers quality and performance. Oral-B electric toothbrushes are renowned for their advanced features and they offer a range of models to suit various needs.

So, don’t hesitate to contact us to schedule your hygiene appointment and secure your exclusive discount code for an Oral-B electric toothbrush. This will help you kickstart your journey to improved oral hygiene.

Dr Paarth Darbar BDS (Hons)

12 years ago, we were settling in for the festive season having celebrated Kate and William’s wedding, seen New Zealand finally win the Rugby World Cup, and witnessed the birth of the game Minecraft.

Feels like an awfully long time ago, doesn’t it?

12 years is a long stretch by anyone’s standards, and that’s why Caroline, our fantastic Clinical Dental Technician deserves serious congratulations for her 12 year Brightside Anniversary this month.

Caroline’s been an incredible part of this team for a long, long time now, and we’re really grateful for all she’s done – it’s been amazing to see her grow and develop, highlighted perfectly in the presentation she gave to the British Society of Gerodontology recently.

Among some big names in the dental industry, Caroline did us proud, talking on the role of the clinical dental technician in caring for older adults – it was a great presentation, and very well received.

There have been a few other celebrations across the practice this month too – our dental nurse Elif got married, and the Brightside team enjoyed the party, while we all got together for our Christmas party at the weekend.

The venue was Evolution in Battersea, and I can thoroughly recommend it – great entertainment, and good old-fashioned bumper cars where you’re actually allowed to bump!

The countdown to Christmas is on now, so a quick friendly dentist reminder from me: don’t let your oral hygiene routine slip over the festive break; if anything, it’s more important than ever.

Ketan

I was speaking to one of our long-term patients the other day – she’s been coming to see us for years.

But I was somewhat shocked by the direction the conversation took.

Turns out she wasn’t aware that we accept new patients, so her partner – who had wanted to become a patient at our practice for a while – had never got in contact with us.

I quickly informed her that we do always welcome referrals from existing patients, and with a new dentist joining our team this year, we have actually got some increased capacity too.

Having found out she had no idea that we accept referrals, I realised that’s probably the case with others too, hence this email to clarify!

We much prefer to see people by recommendation, so if you have got friends, family or colleagues you’d like to refer, we’d love to hear from you, and to make it a little easier for them to come in, we’ll give them a £25 discount off their initial consultation too.

Is there anyone that springs to mind that you think might benefit from coming to see us here at Brightside? 

If so, please pass on our details and make sure they give your name to qualify for the special discount.

 Ketan

The festive season is just around the corner, but we’re starting the celebrations early today at Brightside, with plenty to feel joyful about.

First up, we need to congratulate Minal – our Brightside Team Member of the Quarter.

Minal only joined us in May, and has quickly become a popular and important part of our team, so much so that her teammates have voted for her to win this accolade in her first full quarter.

 As a highly qualified dentist, Minal brings plenty of value to our dental patients, as well as being a facial aesthetics expert, and we’re delighted that she’s come in and made such an impact.

Some personal celebrations are in order too – our dental nurse Maria, has recently given birth to her baby boy Kristian: another baby has joined the Brightside family!  We wish Maria and her family lots of love, and we’re excited to meet Kristian!

Onto more “worky” things – we had an extremely important annual training update the other week, where the team received their basic life support and CPR training. 

We obviously hope every day that we don’t need to use those skills, but it’s critical that if we need to, we can.

And finally, I was at the Mi Smile conference last week, and learnt about some really fantastic advancements in the world of Invisalign – the future for Invisalign really is bright, and we’re excited to help even more people to get the straight teeth they want in the coming months and years.

Right, that’s it from me – hope you have a fantastic day.

Speak soon,

Ketan

Cancer.  Sadly in 2023, it’s something that has touched all of our lives in some way, whether that’s personally, or through friends and family.

And at Brightside, a particular cancer we play close attention to is mouth cancer, which we check for signs of during every single dental assessment we do.

November is Mouth Cancer Action Month, an initiative designed to raise awareness of the disease, and if you’re not familiar with symptoms and the steps you can take to give yourself the best chance of preventing it from happening to you, it’s well worth taking a couple of minutes to check this out.

And here at Brightside, we’re using this month to raise money for the Stand Up To Cancer initiative.

Members of our team are doing 100 squats a day throughout the month of November, with the aim of raising £500, which can help fund life-saving research.

The practice will match everything raised, so together we’ve got an opportunity to raise a good amount of money.

I’m imagining that those participating are going to be pretty sore by the end of the month, but hey, it’s good exercise, and more importantly, it’s a fantastic cause!

If you feel able to donate, you can click the link here, but whether you do or not, please do check out the information on mouth cancer – there’s lots you can do to give yourself the best chance of prevention and early detection.

And of course, a big part of that is coming in for your regular dental assessments, as we’ll check for it each and every time.