Tackling Your Dental Treatment Plan

If you're missing teeth, your dentist may fit you for a dental bridge. One of the benefits of dental bridges is that they can be used to replace one or more teeth. Dental bridges are usually permanently affixed to the adjoining healthy teeth in your mouth, which ensures a tight, secure fit. It also ensures that your bridge looks as natural as possible. In fact, once you're fitted with your dental bridge, no one will be able to tell that it's there. To keep your mouth healthy, and prevent problems with your dental bridge, here are some care instructions you'll want to follow. 

Keep Your Mouth Clean

You may have a few false teeth in your mouth, but you'll still need to keep it clean. In fact, once you're fitted for your dental bridge, you'll need to spend a bit more time on your dental hygiene. That's because there are small spaces and gaps where food particles can build up. In most cases, you won't be able to get to those spaces with a normal toothbrush, which means you'll need to get yourself a small interspace brush. These small toothbrushes have bristles that can fit in the spaces between your bridges and your natural teeth. It's also important that you rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash at least twice a day – once in the morning and once at night.

Get the Plaque Buildup Removed

You might not realize this, but your dental bridge can develop plaque too. Like the plaque that builds up on your teeth, it can't be removed from your bridge with normal brushing. Unfortunately, if plaque is allowed to remain on your bridge, it can lead to dental infections, bad breath, and more serious dental conditions. To keep the plaque away, you should have your dental bridge cleaned by the dentist at least twice a year.

Avoid Things That Can Break Your Bridge

Your dental bridge is going to be strong enough to withstand the pressure of eating normal foods. However, it's not indestructible. To protect your bridge, you should avoid anything that could break it. For instance, you should never eat ice, or bite down on hard candies when you have a bridge in your mouth. It's also important that you wear a mouth guard when participating in contact sports, or other physical activities that could lead to mouth injuries.

Now that you're going to be fitted for a dental bridge, use the information provided here to help you keep it clean and your mouth healthy. If you develop problems with your bridge, such as pain, be sure to contact your dentist as soon as possible.