Do you have a dental bridge from our Long Island dentist? You’ll need to know the best way to keep it clean each day. Here are some helpful tips:
Brushing Your Dental Bridge
Brushing your dental bridge isn’t much different than brushing your natural teeth. You will want to make sure that you brush along the gumline well but you should already be doing that for all of your teeth!
How To Floss a Dental Bridge
A traditional bridge consists of a minimum of three crowns. The outermost sides of the bridge are going to be flossed normally. However, with the middle tooth on your bridge being a suspended artificial tooth, you’ll have to clean underneath because bacteria and food particles get stuck in that space. Side effects of not cleaning under your bridges are tooth decay, gum disease, tooth and gum infection, tooth loss, bridge failure, and bad breath.
Cleaning underneath the pontic can be tricky at first. It may take some practice before you get the hang of it. But after a while, it’ll be easier and you won’t have to think twice about it.
You’ll need special floss to clean underneath the suspended tooth. The best kind of floss to use in this case is called “Superfloss.” Superfloss comes in pre-measured individual packets of floss which have a stiff end. What you’ll do is take the rigid end and slide it through between your gum tissue and pontic tooth. Once the stiff end is through, pull the floss halfway under the bridge. Now slide the tufted string back and forth underneath to remove any food or plaque. When you’re done, simply slide the floss all the way out. Be sure to clean closely next to the supporting teeth, too.
Using A Water Flosser Around a Dental Bridge
Many patients who have bridges like using a water flosser to make cleaning a bit easier. A water flosser is a handheld device with a hose that connects to a water reservoir. To “water floss” your teeth, you’ll aim the nozzle at the area you want to clean. When activated, a spray of pressurized water shoots out the tip and flushes that area clean. Use the water flosser to trace around the supporting teeth and underneath the fixed bridge.
Don’t Forget Your Professional Cleaning
When you visit our Long Island dentist every six months, we’ll look at your bridge to ensure that you’re cleaning it properly and that the surrounding area is healthy. If you need any pointers on oral hygiene in that space, we’ll gladly show you step by step what to do at home. Don’t get discouraged if cleaning your new bridge seems like a big task at first 一 the great dentists and team of Sachem Dental Group are here to help. We’ll ensure that you have all the tools and knowledge you need to get the job done right. Don’t hesitate to give us a call today!
