Losing your teeth can cause a number of issues that impact our daily life. Issues with your speech, chewing your food, and even your self-confidence can be impacted by tooth loss. There are a number of effective tooth replacement options to ensure your smile looks healthy and bright. Dental bridges are the most popular among all of the tooth replacement options. They are a highly effective treatment that can restore the look of your smile. Caring for your oral health after dental bridges is important. Patients with dental bridges often wonder how to floss a dental bridge. Below you will find helpful information to ensure your oral health stays in top shape with your new dental bridge.
The Importance of Flossing Your Dental Bridge
Flossing your dental bridge is important as food particles and plaque can easily get stuck and accumulate between your gums and the dental bridge. This increases your risk of serious dental issues, including tooth decay and gum disease. Both of these can cause your dental bridge to become loose and even fall out if left untreated. Daily flossing can help reduce your risk of dental issues and ensure your dental bridges last.
How to Floss a Dental Bridge
Understanding the importance of flossing your dental bridge can help motivate you to actually do it. Below you will find the most effective methods for flossing your dental bridge.
Interdental Brush:
This tool resembles a toothpick lined with short bristles. It is simple to use as you’ll just need to hold the handle and insert the bristled end beneath your bridge. Move the brush back and forth gently along your gum line. It’s best to use the interdental brushes with plastic bristles if you have implants as metal alternatives can cause damage. Talk with your dentist about this option to determine if it is right for you.
Water Flosser:
This tool is a handheld device that looks like a pen. It utilizes a pulsating jet of water to flush out food particles and plaque trapped underneath your dental bridge and around your crowns. Use caution the first time you use it as it can get somewhat messy. Lean over the sink and start using it with the lowest pressure setting. Aim the water stream between your gums and dental bridge (not the gum line) to ensure you get the most out of the device.
Floss Threader:
This method is made of rigid plastic and resembles a needle and can be used to floss beneath a dental bridge in Encino. It is similar to a needle and thread in the sense that you simply thread the floss through the loop end of the threader. You can use it to guide the floss beneath the bridge and then glide the floss back and forth along your gum line.
Benefits of Dental Bridge Treatment
Dental bridge treatment is popular for a reason as there are a variety of benefits. Filling in the gaps in your smile can have a positive effect on your self-confidence and ensure your smile looks natural and healthy. In addition to the aesthetic benefits, the treatment can also address speech and digestive issues related to your tooth loss.
Without treatment, more serious issues can develop. For example, missing teeth can impact the health of your jaw. The first step in getting a dental bridge is scheduling a consultation with a dentist in Encino. The consultation is necessary to determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure. Contact the team at Encino Family Dental today for a consultation. They are skilled in restorative dentistry treatments and have helped countless patients restore their smiles.
