Caring For Your Dental Bridge
by Harold Coleman
Dental bridges are one of the most affordable options for replacing missing teeth. However, in order to protect your investment, you will need to follow certain guidelines for keeping the bridges clean and safe from wear and tear. Here are some of the best ways to take care of your dental bridge.
Pay Good Attention to Adjacent Teeth
The permanence of your dental bridge depends on the strength of the supporting teeth. If these teeth decay, then your bridge will rest on an unstable platform and it might break or become loose. Pay special attention to brushing and flossing the teeth that are on either side of your dental bridge.
Cleaning Around the Bridge
One of the biggest challenges for new dental bridge owners is cleaning around the tooth, since the process is a little bit different than what you would do for normal teeth. You'll need to be careful not only to clean in between the bridge and the natural teeth, but also underneath the bridge itself. A few tools make this easier. The first thing to try is a nylon threader that will help you loop dental floss into the gap between your teeth and the bridge. Another option is to get a water flosser. This device squirts water into the gaps between your teeth, and it can be an easier option if you're having trouble getting a good grip on your floss. A small brush called an interproximal brush is also a good option for cleaning around your bridge, but it depends on the size of the gap between your teeth and the bridge since it may not fit around all dentures.
Sports Protection
Another issue that comes up for dental bridge patients is how to keep your bridge safe while playing sports. A protective mouth guard can help to secure your bridge and buffer it against rough contact. If your bridge does become loose after impact, protective mouth gear can also help to keep the bridge in place until you're able to visit your dentist's office.
Getting used to the dental bridge will take some time, since you might need to master new tools for cleaning and protecting your bridge. While you may need to replace a bridge after many years of use, these care steps may help you to prolong your bridge's lifespan. It can help to go over these procedures with a dentist, like those at The Center For Progressive Dentistry, so that they can show you the proper care methods on your actual teeth.
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About Me
I have never liked my teeth. I had a lot of dental problems, including deep staining and oddly shaped teeth. Every tooth did not have the same shape, and some were rounded while others were more square. Not surprisingly, I never smiled in pictures and not even much in real life. This left people thinking I was mean before they even met me. My dentist told me my best bet to improve the look of my smile was a set of porcelain dental veneers. He said they could make all my teeth white and the same shape. I said I wanted them without any hesitation, and we scheduled my procedures. I love my new teeth, and they really did change my life. I created this blog to help other people living with teeth they don't like realize that they do have options that can improve their smiles and their lives.