Market Place Dentistry, Quality Dental care in Thirsk, Yorkshire
01845 523620 MPD Google MPD instagram MPD Youtube

Routine Care and Hygiene

We can all benefit from regular Dental Health Checks and Dental Hygiene appointments

Dental Health Checks

Attending for regular Dental Health Check appointments means you can keep your teeth, gums and mouth as healthy as possible.

It is a valuable chance for you to discuss with us any concerns or problems you have. It is always best to have any problems checked and (if necessary) treated as soon as possible. Early treatment is usually simpler (and cheaper), and helps to better preserve the health of your teeth.

We also want you to be completely happy with your teeth and smile. Your Dental Health Check is also an opportunity for you to let us know if there’s anything with your teeth  you are not happy with.

What happens at my Dental Health Check? >>


Dental Hygiene appointments

Visiting your dental hygienist regularly is the best way to keep your teeth and gums healthy. We usually recommend between 1 and 4 appointments per year for the most benefit.

Go to our dedicated hygiene and gum health page

Build-up of plaque and tartar on the teeth can irritate and inflame the gums, which may lead to periodontal disease and tooth loss.

Your hygienist will spend time during your appointment thoroughly cleaning the teeth to remove build-up from both above and below the gumline. They will also discuss with you how you can best care for your teeth and gum health at home

We find that those patients who visit the hygienist regularly are much more likely to improve and maintain their gum health, and prevent early tooth loss.

Read more about gum health

Listen to real patients’ experiences of gum disease (periodontitis)


Preventative Dental treatments

Prevention is better than cure, and we want to help all our patients to minimise their risk of dental problems.

The most effective way for you to maintain your dental health is by having good routines at home (see below), but we also offer some non-invasive preventative treatments to help you on the way.

Dental Hygiene appointments (above) help to reduce your risk of tooth decay and gum disease

Fissure sealants help to prevent decay in back teeth. We use resin sealants to fill in the nooks and crannies on the biting surfaces, so it’s easier for you to keep the area clean at home.

Fluoride varnish application by the dentist or hygienist can help to strengthen teeth. The varnish contains high-concentration fluoride which is absorbed into the tooth and helps to make it a little stronger and more resistant to decay. If appropriate, we can also prescribe high-fluoride toothpaste for the same purpose.


Looking after your teeth at home

If you have dental implants, download our ‘Looking after your dental implants’ guide

Tips on teeth cleaning

  • Brush your teeth twice a day for at least 2 minutes to remove plaque build-up (3 minutes is better).
  • An electric toothbrush is usually more effective. We find that the most effective ranges are by Oral-B and Philips Sonicare.
  • Clean between all your teeth at least once per day. TePe interdental brushes are the most effective way to do this. Flossing is a good alternative. View demonstration videos.
  • Use a toothpaste containing at least 1400ppm fluoride to help protect the enamel. If you have sensitive teeth, sensitive toothpastes such as Sensodnye or Colgate Pro-relief usually help.
  • Make sure you brush all the surfaces of the teeth, and well up onto the gumline.
  • After brushing spit out, don’t rinse. This means the protective fluoride in the toothpaste stays on the teeth for longer.
  • If you notice bleeding, don’t be put off brushing. Thorough cleaning will help to reduce bleeding over time.
  • Mouthwashes are not normally beneficial for routine use. However, we may sometimes recommend you use mouthwash for short term use or particular problems.

There is good advice on toothbrushing for children here

Lifestyle tips for healthy teeth and gums

There is good advice on this here