Ways To Protect Your Dental Bridge And The Gums Around It
If you have a dental bridge, you may not realize that there are some important measures that you should take to help protect the appliance and the gums that surround it. Here are a few of these measures:
Brush your dental bridge as you would a natural tooth.
Your dental bridge cannot suffer tooth decay, because it is not comprised of natural tooth material. However, it can still become coated with plaque and food particles.
The plaque that forms as the bacteria in your mouth mix with particles of food can still stick to the bridge and inflame the gums surrounding it. The plaque can even incite tooth decay in teeth that are adjacent to the appliance. Still, decay can be avoided by thoroughly brushing the bridge and the area surrounding it each time you brush your other teeth.
Clean the gums beneath the false tooth of the bridge.
The false tooth of a dental bridge rests at the gum line. As a result, food and plaque can be trapped between the false tooth and the gums. This can cause the gums in that area to become irritated and inflamed. Although this may not seem to be a serious issue, if the dental bridge is supported by dental implants and gum disease becomes severe enough, the implants can fail and consequently, the dental bridge will be compromised.
To clean the area between the false tooth of the dental bridge and the gum line, use a small interdental brush. The tiny brush, which resembles a pipe cleaner, can compress to easily fit in the narrow space. If an interdental brush is not available, thread dental floss through the area and use it to sweep against the gum line and the top of the false tooth.
Wear a mouth guard if you play contact sports.
If you play contact sports, a mouth guard should be worn to protect your natural teeth and your dental bridge. A blow to the mouth can dislodge a dental bridge from the supporting teeth. In addition, it can knock out supporting teeth or shift dental implants. A protective mouth guard during activities, such as basketball or soccer, can help ensure that the dental bridge remains protected.
Also, use a mouth guard if you suffer from bruxism. As you grind your teeth at night, the bite force can damage your dental bridge or shift supporting dental implants from their position.
To learn more ways to protect your dental bridge, consult with a dentist, like one at Gentle Dental Family Care, in your area.