Dental bridges can be a bit tricky to clean and floss, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to take excellent care of them. Techniques for cleaning and flossing your dental bridge can depend on the type of bridge you have. Read on for best practices, including tools you should use to make sure you keep your dental bridge, and entire mouth healthy.
Brushing Your Dental Bridge
You should aim to brush your teeth, including your dental bridge twice a day. Use a soft-bristled brush. You should also avoid extremely abrasive kinds of toothpaste that contain ingredients like peroxide or baking soda. You are welcome to use an electric or regular toothbrush. One benefit of electric toothbrushes is that they may have a timer that can ensure you brush for the recommended two minutes. Keep in mind that it is still possible to get a cavity in the teeth that your bridge is anchored to, so if you’ve been less than conscientious about brushing your teeth regularly and properly in the past, it’s time to make it a priority.
Flossing Your Dental Bridge
You should floss your teeth, including your bridge once a day for optimal health, and to extend the life of your bridge. Because you cannot floss the same way with a bridge as you can with natural teeth, or a dental implant, you may want to pick up some of these useful flossing tools:
- Dental Pick
Shaped like a toothpick, but with a rubber tip, dental picks can help you remove food from your gum line so that it doesn’t lead to an infection.
- Floss Threader
A floss threader is a soft plastic needle that can be threaded under a bridge. The threader will have a loop that allows you to pull the floss through, removing plaque and food debris.
- Interdental Brush
An interdental brush looks a bit like a pipe cleaner. The benefit of these brushes is that the bristles can get into all spaces to remove plaque and debris.
- Oral Irrigator (Waterpik)
Oral irrigators, such as those made by Waterpik use water to floss your teeth. The pulsating water is very effective in removing plaque and food particles.
Tips for Caring for Your Dental Bridge
With excellent care, your bridge may last up to 15 years or longer. In addition to brushing twice daily, and flossing daily, these tips can also help care for your bridge.
- See Your Dentist Twice a Year
Regular checkups and cleanings are vital for maintaining good oral health. By seeing your dentist every six months, any minor problems that arise can be treated before they become more complex problems.
- Avoid Certain Foods
If certain foods tend to get stuck in the gum around your bridge, it’s best to just avoid them. It’s not worth it to risk letting bacteria grow when you can just avoid those foods. Likewise, exceptionally chewy or hard foods can weaken your bridge, so you should avoid them.
Learn More About Dental Bridge Care in Suwanee
Suwanee Family Dentistry provides complete family, cosmetic, and restorative dental treatments, including dental bridges. To schedule an appointment with our friendly team, contact us today at 678-714-2380.