If you’re missing teeth, a dental bridge is one of several options you might consider as a means of replacing them. Should you decide this is the ideal treatment for your needs, you may also wish to know how you can floss and clean your bridge to maintain both the bridge itself and your overall oral health.
Keep reading to learn more. The following guide covers the basics of dental bridge care. However, it’s also wise to discuss this topic in greater detail with your dentist.
What is a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is a treatment option a dentist might offer when a patient is missing one tooth or multiple adjacent teeth. Although dental bridges come in a variety of forms, a traditional dental bridge consists of false teeth (or “pontics”) that abutments anchor in place. In a traditional dental bridge, these abutments cover the teeth adjacent to the gap in a patient’s smile.
Benefits of Dental Bridges
Advantages dental bridges may offer include the following:
- Improved smile: A dental bridge can improve the appearance of a patient’s smile. According to research from the National Institutes of Health, an improved smile may have a positive influence on an individual’s general mental and emotional wellness.
- Improved comfort: The presence of a dental bridge may allow a patient to speak and chew more comfortably and easily than they could without a bridge.
- Affordability: Various factors can influence the cost of a dental bridge. However, this form of treatment may be more affordable than others, such as dental implants.
- Guarding against damage: A dental bridge doesn’t just restore a patient’s smile. It also distributes the force of a patient’s bite. When the force of a bite is distributed more evenly, the wear and tear on individual teeth is minimal, guarding against potential damage.
These are just a few reasons you may consider filling in a gap in your smile with a dental bridge. Again, before doing so, you might naturally want to know how to complete certain basic oral health tasks.
Cleaning and Flossing a Dental Bridge: What You Need to Know
The best source of information about how to clean, floss, and generally maintain a dental bridge is your dentist. Follow their instructions to ensure your dental bridge stays in the best possible condition for as long as possible.
That said, the following general tips can help you ensure a dental bridge remains clean:
- Use the right flossing product: Purchase a floss threader or a “super floss” product when you get a dental bridge. These types of products have stiff ends that allow patients to more easily floss bridges, braces, and particularly large gaps between teeth.
- Consider an interdental brush: An interdental brush is a small brush that allows you to clean between your teeth and in spaces you might be unable to reach with a traditional toothbrush. Some patients find this tool is useful when cleaning a dental bridge.
- Try a water flosser: As the name implies, a water flosser allows a patient to clean the spaces between their teeth with a pressurized stream of water instead of traditional dental floss. Instead of using it to replace dental floss, you may use a water flosser to help you more thoroughly clean your dental bridge.
Along with using the right products, you may clean a dental bridge by:
- Brushing twice a day. Use a non-abrasive toothpaste and a toothbrush with soft bristles to minimize damage to the bridge.
- Floss at least once a day.
- Use mouthwash with fluoride.
The Importance of Cleaning a Dental Bridge
Remember, the information here is fairly general. Your dentist may provide more specific advice regarding how you may clean your dental bridge.
Following their advice will benefit you greatly in the long run. Cleaning a bridge can help it remain in good condition for as long as possible, saving you a lot of money. With proper care, a dental bridge may last a decade or longer.
Cleaning your bridge is beneficial to your oral health as well. Although the bridge itself might not be prone to decay, cleaning the bridge can also prevent bacteria on the bridge from reaching your natural teeth and gums.
Essentially, a dental bridge is just like your real teeth. A bridge resembles natural teeth, and needs the same type of care. These tips will help.
Learn More About Dental Bridges in Brunswick, OH
Do you believe you might be a candidate for a dental bridge? If so, our team at Bellissimi Dental can answer your questions about this treatment option. Get started today by contacting us online or calling us at330-741-3334 to request an appointment.