It’s just as important to clean around your dental bridge as it is your natural teeth!
If you have a dental bridge, it’s extremely important that you clean around it regularly. Although the restorative portion of your bridge can’t get cavities, you need to make sure that the tooth structure it’s anchored onto as well as your surrounding gum tissues are as healthy as possible. Because if they become infected, it can cause your bridge to fail completely.
Thankfully, good oral hygiene is the answer. Knowing how to clean around your dental bridge and which types of hygiene aids to use will keep your restoration stable, breath fresh, and lower your chances of complications in the future.
Brush Your Bridge Daily
Use a soft toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste to thoroughly clean all areas of your dental bridge. Start by cleaning the chewing surfaces, then go down each side, making small strokes. Pay particular attention to the edges of the bridge, nearest your gums (as plaque tends to be thicker in those areas.) Investing in an electric toothbrush can be especially helpful if you’re prone to getting stain buildup between your dental visits.
Floss Underneath Your Bridge
It’s just as important to clean underneath your bridge as it is around it. You have a few different ways to do this. One is with traditional floss and a threader. Simply loop the floss through the threader, then slide the pointed end under and out the other side of your bridge. At that point, hold the floss and swipe back and forth underneath the bridge, then wrapping the floss around each supporting tooth/implant to clean just under the gums in those areas.
Another option is to invest in “super floss”. This floss design has a firm end that threads through open areas, but the floss tufts out into a thicker texture several inches down. The wider design makes super floss ideal for cleaning under bridges or open areas between teeth.
A water flosser is another great investment. This powered device sprays a steady stream of water, flushing out food debris and loose plaque from hard-to-reach areas. Depending on the model that you buy, you can adjust the pressure level and attach different tip designs. When it comes to how to clean around your dental bridge or other restorations, water flossers are great to have on hand.
Regularly Inspect Your Gums
Keep an eye out for areas of puffy, red gums. Any inflammation around your supporting tooth or implant needs to be addressed before it evolves into periodontal disease. If you have bleeding when you brush and floss, just be sure to thoroughly clean that area each day. Typically, you’ll see symptoms improve within two weeks. If they don’t, be sure to make our dentists aware of the issue!
Schedule Routine Dental Cleanings
Our Long Island dentists recommend scheduling a cleaning every six months if your teeth and gums are usually healthy. If you have a history of or a current gum infection, you may need to have your teeth cleaned as frequently as every 3-4 months. And if you need help figuring out the best way how to clean around your dental bridge, we’ve got the tips you need!
Are you due for a checkup? Contact our Suffolk County multi-specialty dental clinic today to reserve your next appointment!
