3 Common Dental Bridge Problems and How to Avoid Them
Dental bridges can replace one tooth or multiple teeth. And if you take care of your bridges, it could last many years. But a dental bridge's lifespan depends on how well its owner takes care of it. Some dental bridges fail in mere months, while others last many years before they encounter problems. By caring for your bridges and your oral health, your bridges can last many years.
If you have new dental bridges or you are considering investing in one, caring for your bridges will help you avoid the following issues.
1. Ill fit due to dental decay
Whilst wearing your bridges, your oral hygiene needs to be excellent. And you should take extra care to brush and floss around your bridges, the pontic and the supporting abutment teeth and crowns. Good oral hygiene is especially important with dental bridges because dental bridges make brushing and flossing slightly more difficult than usual. As a result, the risk of tooth decay is higher.
One of the worst problems that occur because of dental decay is that your bridge becomes ill-fitting. This usually happens because tooth decay attacks the abutment teeth and gradually changes the way your bridges fit. Ill-fitting bridges can irritate your oral tissues, causing sores. And eventually, the bridges may fall out.
Practice excellent oral hygiene and dental decay won't affect your bridges.
2. Damage caused by hard or sticky foods
You can eat hard and sticky foods, but you need to take extra care while doing so with bridges in. Hard foods such as boiled candy can break the supporting teeth, detaching the bridges in the process. Remember that your supporting teeth won't be quite as strong as your other teeth, so bear this in mind when chewing especially hard foods like candy.
Sticky foods can have a similar effect because they can pull the dental crowns off your abutment teeth, especially if your bridges are quite old. Remember this when eating these foods.
3. Tartar buildup
Tartar is one of your worst enemies while wearing bridges. If you don't take care to brush around your bridges, tartar can build up behind and under them. Tartar causes gum disease, which is painful and will eventually cause gum recession. Gum recession will affect the appearance of your dental bridge since your gums will pull away from the bridge crowns.
Brush and floss diligently to avoid this issue.
Keep these issues in mind when caring for your dental bridges. With the right care, your dental bridges can last many years. Reach out to a local dentist to learn more about bridges.
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