Sunbury dental tips: Caring for teeth when you have a bridge

If you have lost a tooth, you are likely considering a dental bridge. One of the most common questions patients ask at our Sunbury and Moonee Ponds practices is about longevity. How long will it last? That depends largely on how you care for the teeth supporting your bridge.

What causes a bridge to fail?

The most likely problem is not with the bridge itself, but with the teeth that support the bridge. If they are injured, broken, or decayed, they cannot support the bridge and it will fail. There are two ways to avoid this problem. The first is to choose an implant restoration rather than a traditional bridge. As an implant is independently supported, it does not put any extra burden on your remaining teeth, nor is it dependent on them for support. The other option is to be diligent in at home care and dental care for your abutment teeth.

Caring for dental bridge

You already know how to brush and floss your teeth, but it takes a few extra steps to clean properly around a dental bridge. That is because the false tooth sits against the gum line. There is not a visible gap, but there is still room for bacteria and food particles to accumulate.

• To clean around the bridge, thread the floss under the false tooth
• It is advisable to use a floss threader or similar tool
• Slide the floss back and forth, cleaning the underside of the false tooth, and the gum surface beneath
• Slide it to the side and use an up-and-down motion to clean one adjacent tooth, then repeat on the other side
• Because bridges tend to trap plaque, regular professional teeth cleaning is essential.

To schedule an appointment, call Smile in Style at 03 8001 6021 for our Sunbury location, or 03 8400 4104 for our Moonee Ponds location or BOOK ONLINE at www.smileinstyle.com.au