There has been a lot of knowledge surfacing everywhere about types of dental bridges, how much a dental bridge costs and how to choose which bridge is suitable for you. But not much has been spoken about the maintenance of the dental bridge once restored in your mouth.
It is essential that once the treatment is over, you know how to keep your bridge intact and how to maintain its shelf life. These care tips may differ for different materials and types of bridges. But the basic idea is to know the important key points.
If you already have a dental bridge in your mouth, or you are planning to get one, this article will help you to take care of your bridge in a better way.
Importance of caring for your dental bridge
An average bridge may last up to 5 – 15 years, depending upon the location of its restoration, the material of the bridge, the type of bridge, how skillfully it has been restored and lastly how it has been taken care of.
The goal is to maintain the dental bridge up to its maximum shelf life while also protecting the support and adjacent teeth. Any harm to the bridge will directly or indirectly damage the adjacent and abutment teeth.
The damage to the bridge leads to repeat treatments and may also lead to an unplanned financial expense.
Let’s explore some of the important tips and strategies that would keep your dental bridge intact for maximum time, ultimately saving you time, energy, and money.
Dos after getting a dental bridge
There are certain things that should be followed essentially after getting your missing teeth restored by dental bridges. Let’s discuss some of such essentials:
Maintaining Oral hygiene: it’s essential to maintain oral hygiene through practices like regular brushing, flossing and rinsing. Keeping good hygiene after getting a prosthesis helps in avoiding:
Further loss of teeth
Avoid plaque or Tartar buildup
Avoid cavities that may harm bridges, or the support tissues as well.
A fluoride toothpaste might also be used in patients who are prone to get caries very frequently.
Rinse with antibacterial mouthwash: if the dental bridge is accompanied by any surgery, it is better to rinse your mouth with antibacterial mouthwash to keep infections at bay.
Visit your dentist: once the dental bridge is restored, follow-ups with your dentist are necessary after prescribed intervals. Usually, dentists suggest visiting them every 6 months to keep a check on your prostheses and also supervise the general dental health.
Eat a balanced diet: Diet is a very significant part of maintaining oral and prostheses health. It’s better to eat fibre-rich and soft food and avoid very starchy and sugary food as they make teeth prone to cavities and accelerate the tartar-building time.
Take a break from aerated drinks and beverages to keep your enamel safe. It is also suggested that you do not eat very hard food items, at least for the first few days as your bridge bonding is still gaining strength.
Use Nightguards: Night clenching can erode your dental bridge or worse it can fracture it along with the tooth inside.
If you are a known teeth clencher, it is very important that you ask your dentist about nightguards and start using one.
Eat from both sides: It’s a mistake that usually patients make that they skip eating from the bridge side thus causing imbalanced chewing and improper muscle function.
Don’ts of a Dental Bridge
Just like essential things which should be followed to get a dental bridge, certain things are expected to be skipped as well. Some of such things are;
Avoid sticky food: Sticky food can cause the bridge to come out within the first few days of restoration so it’s good to avoid sticky food.
Aerated Beverages: Take a break from aerated drinks and beverages to keep your enamel safe. It is also suggested that you do not eat very hard food items, at least for the first few days as your bridge bonding is still getting strength.
Don’t use very coarse toothpaste: many people think that abrasive toothpaste will whiten their teeth or prostheses, but in turn, it erodes the enamel layer or the bridge surface making them more prone to damage.
Aftercare of the newly restored dental bridge
A newly restored dental bridge needs a little tender love and care as well. Follow these easy tips to stay comfortable:
Use anti-sensitivity toothpaste: you may feel mild sensitivity after getting a bridge due to teeth trimming, bonding etc. Toothpaste that protects your teeth from sensitivity will help you stay comfortable.
Avoid eating hard food: Your dental bridge gains maximum strength within 24-48 hours. It’s good to avoid very hard food during this time.
Taking a painkiller: sometimes you may feel pressure pain due to the bridge being restored and thus taking a painkiller for a day causes no harm.
Things to remember:
Always use cleaning tools like floss and interdental brushes to clean near the dental bridge.
Check for any kind of redness, swelling or pain near the dental bridge
Consult your dentist if there is any sort of mobility or fracture felt in your dental bridge
Never try to fix your dental bridge by yourself. Your dentist is the best person to go to.
Conclusion
A dental bridge is not only a prosthesis but an investment you make for your health. So, it is very necessary to take care of your dental prostheses like any other health investment. The best thing to do is to inculcate healthy dietary and hygiene habits in your daily routine and the maintenance part will automatically be taken care of.
Hopefully, this article must have solved many of your queries regarding the care of your dental bridges.
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