For the most part, caring for dental bridges is not much different than caring for the rest of the teeth in your mouth. You should stick to a regular routine of brushing teeth at least twice per day and flossing daily. When you are brushing teeth, you can and should brush the pontic, which is the replacement tooth or teeth that sits in the space left vacant by a missing tooth, as well as the surrounding crowns which anchor the pontic permanently in the mouth by way of the bridge. Brushing all of these teeth each day will better ensure that any food particles or bacteria are removed from the area so that they cannot cause any decay in surrounding teeth or negatively affect gums.
Dental Bridges Dental Care
Flossing is also essential when you have a bridge. In addition to flossing between teeth, as you would do with any natural teeth, you should get into the habit of flossing between the pontic and crowns and between the crowns and surrounding teeth. If space is tight between these teeth due to the fabrications of the teeth, you may need to use a threader or flosser to get in the tighter spaces.
Additionally, since the pontic is not attached to the bone under the gums, it is important to keep the space that exists between the false tooth and the gums clean so that gum disease does not develop. This is done using a special flosser which can get under the tooth and over the gums to remove any bacteria or debris. Gum disease is a major concern for those with dental bridges and skipping this step can lead to major issues.
Other than routine oral hygiene, one other way to keep your bridge in good shape and lasting for many years to come is to treat it with care. Do not bite down on hard or sharp objects in the area of the bridge (you shouldn’t do this anyway) and try avoid any actions that may damage or loosen the dental bridge. For example, don’t use a toothpick to try to pry something out that may be stuck under the apparatus, but rather use a flosser to gently dislodge what’s there.
You should also stick to a regular schedule of visiting the dentist to keep your teeth in the best health possible. Routine preventative appointments have to been shown to keep teeth and gums healthier and allow your dentist to detect any small problems before they become big problems.
For more information about caring for dental bridges, contact Park Dental Care at 718-274-1515.
