How to Care for Your Dental Bridge
Although tooth replacements, like dental bridges and even dental implants, are wonderful options for restoring your smile, they aren’t as strong as your original teeth. While most bridges can last a very long time (about 10 years for the average patient), they typically don’t last forever. Whether you have a traditional bridge, bonded bridge, or cantilever bridge, how well you care for and treat it will affect its lifespan. Of course, providing your dental bridge with the proper care and minimizing excessive wear and tear will help you get the most out of it.
Maximize the Life of Your Dental Bridge with Proper Care
1. Keep Up the Good Work
Typically, a dentist wouldn’t recommend a bridge to a patient who practices sub-par dental hygiene. If you’ve been given a dental bridge, then you’re already an expert at brushing and flossing regularly. Be careful not to let these habits slide, as they’re more important than ever for patients who have dental bridges.
2. Floss Under and Around Your Bridge
Dental bridges leave the gum beneath the bridge and the two anchor teeth exposed to food particles, bacteria, and plaque buildup that can cause periodontal disease. Floss regularly beneath your bridge and around the anchor teeth that support it to keep your gum tissues and anchor teeth healthy.
3. Rinse with a Dentist-Recommended Mouthwash
Follow your brushing and flossing routine with an alcohol-free fluoride rinse. This will fortify your teeth and help remove any remaining debris from beneath the dental bridge.
4. Avoid Excessive Wear and Tear
Don’t chew on ice, pen caps, or other hard objects, as this will wear down your dental bridge. If you have sleep bruxism (teeth grinding or jaw clenching), talk with Dr. Michels about strategies to reduce your bruxism and/or to protect your teeth while you sleep.
5. Schedule Regular Checkups
When you have a dental appliance, like a bridge, it’s more important than ever to continue a regular schedule of dental checkups. During these exams, Dr. Michels will examine your teeth and your bridge, detecting and addressing any potential concerns early.
Schedule a Smile Restoration Consultation in La Mesa
If you’re missing one or more consecutive teeth, you might be a candidate for a smile restoration with a dental bridge. We welcome you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Michels at Cardinal Dental in La Mesa. He’ll perform a careful examination and evaluation to help you determine the best tooth replacement options and full treatment plan for you.
