Cleaning dental bridges | Techniques vary with blazon of bridge

Posted by & filed under Dental Bridges, Missing Teeth, Oral Hygiene, Patient Education, Preventive Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry.

cleaning dental bridges

Many people exercise not know how to clean a dental span. Tooth loss is never an ideal circumstance, only when life happens, restorative dentistry can restore a full, functional smiling. Thankfully, with the number of tooth replacement methods bachelor, restoring your smile is relatively simple. One of the more common dental restorations is a dental bridgework. Bridgework can replace missing teeth in your grinning with artificial teeth, to provide a seamless, natural looking appearance. However, while they tin restore smiles flawlessly, cleaning underneath one can prove a chip difficult. For those who have recently had one placed, proper cleaning is an of import thing to larn and master.

Why a Clean Span is Important for Your Health

Cleaning your dental bridge often is fundamental to preventing oral wellness complications such every bit tooth decay or gum bug. As with any surface in your rima oris, harmful oral bacteria will observe their way onto your new dentistry. If not properly cleaned and maintained, oral bacteria could accumulate underneath and around the fake tooth leading to periodontal illness. The sore, inflamed, and cherry gums that are a sign of gingivitis. This could pb to extensive infection of the soft supportive tissues of your mouth. This tin be harmful for your natural teeth and gum tissue. Information technology could alter how your bridgework fits confronting the mucilage. Staying on superlative of oral hygiene is the best way to ensure your bridge remains healthy and potent for years to come.

Types of Bridges

Proper cleaning technique largely depends on the types of dental bridgework you accept. Some people refer to removable partial dentures as a removable bridge. This type of tooth restoration appliance tin exist removed for easy at home cleanings after meals or at nighttime. These typically are cleaned in the aforementioned way as removable dentures.

Three common varieties of permanent bridges exist, including:

  • Traditional bridges: these restorations are most often placed when natural teeth are plant on both sides of a missing tooth. Dental crowns are placed on each natural tooth to create a stable hold for the false tooth in betwixt. Traditional bridges are the most common blazon of span and are typically made from cute porcelain or porcelain fused to metallic.
  • Traditional span with ovate pontic:  This version has a false tooth that extends very tightly upward into the mucilage. There is absolutely no space under the false tooth. Flossing under ovate pontics is discouraged.
  • Cantilever bridges are similar to a traditional versions, merely have only ane supportive crown abutment on one side of the pontic. Typically, these are but placed on teeth that do not support a big amount of pressure or biting force.
  • Maryland bridges are the last type of stock-still span. It is composed of a pontic supported past metallic or porcelain "wings" that are bonded around side by side teeth.

Dental Bridge Cleaning Techniques and Methods

Cleaning your fixed bridgework can take some getting used to. Some patients may find it difficult to adequately clean underneath the pontic. All the same, special tools, and practice, tin can aid you clean better for optimal oral health.

We recommend patients try these dissimilar methods, to find the cleaning technique that works for them:

Floss threader.

Flossing a bridge is different than flossing regular teeth. A floss threader is essentially a large soft plastic needle. This thin and flexible plastic needle can exist pushed or threaded under a bridge. The threader has a loop to pull the floss with it. Using a threader is one of the most common methods for cleaning bridges. With a gentle cleaning motion, remove the food particles and plaque.

Toothpick.

When you can't floss due to poor dexterity, consider using a toothpick. Carefully, move the toothpick under the imitation tooth to remove any lingering leaner. Have care to do this slowly every bit hard strength could injure your gum line.

Interdental brushes are very helpful with cleaning dental bridges

These tiny "proxy" brushes tin can be pushed between your teeth. They are often used by patients with metal orthodontics such as braces. The GUM make is the main manufacturer of these brushes. Complete with beard, an interdental castor (or "interproximal") is quite effective at removing plaque and food. Using ane is easy—but movement the brush nether the span and gently scrub away the germs.

Oral irrigators

Oral irrigators such as the Waterpik are well liked by patients. This water based flosser releases a stream of pulsating water to remove both food debris and plaque—which is h2o soluble. Many dentists recommend using an oral irrigator shortly later eating or snacking.

Avoiding Certain Foods

It is a proficient thought to avoid certain types of foods to prevent damage to your bridge. Avoid viscous or chewy candies, or save them equally an occasional treat. Mucilaginous toffees, caramels, or taffy can exert a pulling force on the crowns supporting your bridge. This increases the chances of loosening the adhesive holding them to your natural teeth. Be conscientious when chewing hard nuts such as almonds, and check for stray nut trounce fragments.

Brushing well is the best way of cleaning dental bridges

Continue your dentistry functional and make clean, is to take good intendance of the rest of your oral fissure. Adept oral care includes twice daily brushings, daily dental flossing, and routine dental cleanings and examinations. Make sure that you are taking proficient care of your toothbrush as well.

Contact the states for aid on cleaning a dental bridge

For more than data on cleaning dental bridges and crowns or recommendations for tiptop rated oral hygiene products, schedule a consultation with Dr. James Fondriest. He can assistance you larn step by step methods to properly cleaning your bridge. Extend its life and amend your overall oral health.