Daily Care Tips to Increase the Lifespan of Your Fixed Dental Bridge

A dental bridge replaces one or more missing teeth by “bridging” a gap in your teeth. Dental bridge care plays a significant role after you complete treatment for optimal oral health. If the neighboring (abutment) teeth of the tooth gap are healthy and firmly anchored in the jaw, they can serve as pillars for a dental bridge. 

Our experts at Laguna Vista Dental in Elk Grove, California, offer bridgework as one of several restoration services. We secure the bridge using dental crowns on either side. If the missing tooth is in the back of your jaw, we can install a unique bridge that only needs one anchoring crown. Artificial crowns match your natural teeth perfectly and, when fixed in place, deliver a beautiful replacement. 

If a dental bridge is the best solution for your oral health, careful dental bridge care is vital for the long-term preservation of your dental appliances.

The importance of dental bridge care

A well-cared-for dental bridge is long-lasting and usually rarely causes problems. Although artificial teeth don’t decay, bacteria and tartar can still build up on them. This buildup can cause gum irritation, oral infections, and bad breath. 

When caring for your dental bridge, taking good care of the abutment teeth is essential. These neighboring teeth are more heavily loaded because they hold and support the bridge. For this reason, they must be especially well cared for and protected. If you take care of your dental bridge, you extend the life of your natural teeth and the lifespan of your dentures.

Daily care tips for your fixed dental bridge

Proper dental bridge care is very important because the lifespan of your dental bridge and the neighboring teeth depends on appropriate and consistent dental bridge care and oral hygiene.

Floss every day

One of the most important things you can do to take care of your fixed dental bridge is to clean the spaces between the bridge and abutment teeth. The American Dental Association recommends using a flossing tool to clean in between your teeth once per day and brushing twice daily. 

Clean around your crowns

Your neighboring teeth support the crown components of the dental bridge. Brush these teeth twice daily using a non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush. This helps to build natural tooth enamel, lowering the risk of decay and protecting the bridge from injury.

Clean underneath your bridge

You can use floss or floss threaders to clean the area beneath the central section of your dental bridge. Use these flossing tools to clean bacteria-prone places that are challenging to access.

A floss threader is an excellent way to clean beneath a fixed bridge. 

Use floss threaders

Floss threaders are thin loops of material that help you clean difficult-to-reach parts of your teeth and gums with the floss. They're disposable, like regular floss, and are easy to find online or in any store with a dental section.

Use floss threaders by wrapping the floss completely around the implant and using a back-and-forth motion. If you're having problems finding a flossing tool that works for you, Laguna Vista Dental can help. 

Let us know if you experience pain or bleeding when flossing so we can make recommendations to ease pain or discomfort.

Extra tips for fixed dental bridge care

Besides brushing and flossing, you can do the following to preserve the health and lifespan of your dental bridge:

• Avoid extremely crunchy or hard foods
• Eat sugary foods in moderation
• Visit Laguna Vista Dental regularly for exams and cleanings

If you have questions or haven’t yet found the ideal cleaning method for your dental bridge care, call Laguna Vista Dental to schedule a consultation. You can also use our online booking tool to request an appointment.