Do you have a missing tooth that has been replaced with a dental bridge? If so, congratulations – this is an excellent solution for restoring your healthy natural teeth and confidence! Dental bridges are a popular choice for replacing missing teeth. These prosthetic teeth help restore the appearance and function of your natural teeth.
However, to ensure that your traditional bridges last for a long time, it’s essential to have professional cleaning and proper care for them regularly. This guide will provide dental bridge maintenance tips to help you extend your prosthetic teeth’s lifespan!
Summary of the Content
- Patients must practice good oral hygiene for their dental bridges to prolong their lifespan.
- Regular visits to an experienced dentist are integral to dental bridge care. This is important to monitor the progress of your dental bridge and spot possible dental issues early on.
- Have a professional cleaning at least every six months. This removes food debris that cannot be easily removed by regular brushing and flossing.
- Neglecting dental hygiene can lead to the failure of dental bridges and other dental diseases.
Why You Should Maintain Your Dental Bridges
Dental bridges not only fill a tooth gap and improve the chewing function of teeth, but they also help improve a person’s quality of life. Practising the right dental bridge aftercare is important to achieve a natural-looking result. If correct oral hygiene for bridges is not performed, it can lead to future dental issues such as periodontal disease or tooth loss.
Maintaining dental bridges will help keep them in great shape so they last longer and keep your teeth healthy.
Tips on Taking Care of Your Dental Bridges
Oral hygiene for bridges is important for the health of your mouth and any dental appliances you have. Check out these dental bridge maintenance tips listed below:
- Brush Your Teeth Regularly:
Your teeth must be brushed twice daily. Use gentle circular motions and clean around the base of the bridge, where food particles and bacteria can build up. Neglecting to brush your teeth and dental bridges can lead to the loosening or detaching of your bridges. - Floss Daily:
Flossing a dental bridge is important to keep your teeth and gums healthy. You should floss your dental bridge at least once a day using an appropriate type of dental floss. Once the floss is in position, gently move it up and down to clean your dental bridge and abutment teeth. Repeat this for each gap between the bridge and your gums. Remember to be gentle but thorough to avoid damaging your bridge and adjacent teeth. - Use an Antimicrobial Mouthwash:
Mouthwash can help remove bacteria from the hard-to-reach areas in your mouth. This will prevent gum inflammation and freshen your breath. It’s also best to use an antimicrobial mouthwash with fluoride. This can strengthen the enamel of your natural teeth and help prevent tooth decay. - Avoid Hard and Sticky Foods:
Eating hard foods can put too much pressure on your dental bridge. Examples of these are candy, nuts, and ice. Meanwhile, chewy foods can cause them to become loose or even break. Examples of chewy foods are caramel and taffy. Eating them in small amounts or temporarily sticking to soft foods is best to avoid damaging your dental bridge. However, always eat a balanced diet, which can affect your overall dental health. - Use a Waterpik:
A Waterpik is a tool that uses a stream of water to clean your teeth and gums by removing food particles and plaque. Choosing the right tip is important when using a Waterpik to clean dental bridges. The best tip is designed for bridges and implants with a brush-like shape that can remove debris around the bridge. Fill the device’s reservoir with warm water to use the Waterpik on your dental bridge. Select a low or medium-pressure setting. Then, place the Waterpik’s tip under the bridge, directing the water stream towards the gum line. Gently move the waterpik’s tip back and forth along the gumline and between the bridge and surrounding teeth. Also, do not use too much pressure that may damage the bridge. - Visit Your Dentist Regularly:
Regular dental visits are important for good bridge oral hygiene. Seeing your dentist every six months helps catch any issues early on. Issues like chips, cracks, or loose fittings can be addressed before they become bigger problems. You can also take this opportunity to have a dental cleaning. Dental professionals can remove plaque or tartar that may have built up around your bridges and neighbouring teeth. This helps prevent decay and gum disease, which can lead to more serious dental problems if left untreated. - Be Gentle When Chewing:
To avoid causing damage to your dental bridges, it’s crucial to chew your food gently. Biting down too hard or consuming hard objects can exert pressure on the bridge, leading to loosening, breaking, or detachment. Try to chew on the opposite side of your mouth or take smaller bites to prevent damage to your dental bridges. - Don’t Smoke:
Cigarette smoking can increase your risk of problems like gum disease and oral cancer, harming the longevity of your dental bridges. Moreover, smoking can also cause discolouration, staining dental bridges and making them unattractive. - Wear a Nightguard:
A night guard is a tool to protect your teeth from grinding or clenching while sleeping. Using a night guard can help shield your dental bridges from the excessive pressure caused by these habits. - Clean Your Dental Bridges with a Soft Toothbrush:
A soft-bristled brush will not cause abrasion or scratches on the dental bridge. A hard or medium-bristled brush can wear away the protective coating, making it more susceptible to decay and other problems. - Use Fluoride Toothpaste:
Fluoride is good for keeping your oral health in check, especially if you have dental bridges. Fluoride can reinforce teeth and protect against decay and other problems that may weaken dental bridges. - Be Diligent:
Maintaining your dental bridges requires diligence and commitment. Following the tips to maintain dental bridges ensures they last longer and prevent potential problems. Failing to care for your dental bridges can lead to decay, gum disease, and even the bridges coming loose or falling out.
What Happens If You Don't Take Care of Your Dental Bridge
Taking good care of your dental bridge, in addition to regular checkups, is essential for maintaining oral health. Any type of bridge may become loose or fail if you don’t take proper dental bridge care. Below are some problems you may encounter if you don’t practise the bridge maintenance tips we discussed earlier:
- Plaque and bacteria buildup can occur around the bridge and surrounding teeth. This can lead to tooth decay and periodontal disease.
- Tooth decay and gum disease can weaken teeth, gums, and supporting bone structure. This can eventually lead to your dental bridge and dental crowns becoming loose or detached.
- Poor care can also cause bad breath, unsightly stains, and discomfort or pain.
What Are the Signs of Dental Bridge Failure
Keeping any type of bridge in top shape requires diligent dental care and preventive measures. Signs of dental bridge failure may include the following:
- Loosening of the dental bridge
- Discomfort or pain while chewing or biting down
- Sensitivity or pain in the teeth or gums
- Changes in the fit of the dental bridge
- Cracks or chips in the dental bridge
- Swelling or redness in the gums around the dental bridge
- Halitosis or a foul taste in the mouth.
What Are the Alternatives to Dental Bridges
Dental bridge procedures are the go-to dental restoration option for dental areas that need filling due to tooth loss. But dental implants and dentures are quickly becoming popular alternatives to dental bridges.
- Dental Implants
Titanium implants are a popular tooth replacement option that differs from dental bridges. Instead of relying on nearby teeth, dental implants are directly anchored into the jaw bone. They act as artificial tooth roots, making them more stable. However, an ideal candidate for this dental procedure should not have significant bone loss. If so, additional surgical procedures like bone grafting may be required to make the patient a suitable candidate. Patients with certain medical conditions may also need to obtain medical clearance from their doctors before undergoing this procedure. Here are some benefits of dental implants over dental bridges. - Partial Dentures
A partial denture is a common type of false tooth that has a metal structure that holds the pink gum-coloured plastic denture in place.
The denture can be fastened to the base without using a metal framework in certain modern designs. When at least one single tooth is still present in the jaw, a partial denture can be attached to it for support.
Removable partial dentures have the potential drawback of being too flimsy to provide enough support for your teeth. They need to be removed every night and soaked in water as part of their unique care requirements. - Maryland Bridges
Maryland bridges are also known as resin-bonded bridges. This bridge type is a conservative option due to the fact that the prosthetic tooth is connected to the teeth on either side of the gap by use of a metal framework shaped like wings. The incisors and other teeth up front are common candidates for a Maryland bridge.
Final Thoughts
Maintenance for all types of bridges is essential to ensuring their longevity and your overall oral health. Following the maintenance tips outlined in this guide, you can keep your dental bridges in excellent condition and enjoy a healthy, beautiful smile for years.
If you’re looking for dental bridges that stand the test of time, look no further than Byford Smiles! A bridge dental treatment can last decades with proper care and maintenance. Our experienced team can teach you proper dental bridge care! Also, you can visit our dental clinic for checkups every six months to ensure your dental bridge is in good condition. Enjoy lasting peace of mind with dentistry from Byford Smiles!