If you have recently had a lost tooth replaced using a dental bridge, the appearance of your smile has likely been fully restored. In addition, you should be able to easily chew your food at the site of the dental restoration.
Now that your bridge is properly in place, there are things that you should do moving forward to ensure that your dental bridge lasts as long as possible. Most fix dental bridges last 10 years or more, but some can last even longer if the proper precautions are taken. Here are a few things that you should do to ensure that your dental bridge remains securely in place:
Avoid foods that are extremely sticky.
Sticky foods, such as taffy, can pull forcefully on a dental bridge. Since the bridge is secured in your mouth by its bonding to neighboring teeth or dental implants, the bridge will come out if the connection between the bridge crowns and the teeth or implants is broken. If a bridge does become dislodged, it is important to have it reconnected as soon as possible by a dentist.
If you must eat sticky foods, allow the foods to soften or melt in your mouth from your saliva before chewing.
Don't bite down on hard substances.
Hard substances, such as ice and hard candy, can crack your dental work, including your dental bridge. A dental bridge is made from a false tooth that is bordered by a dental crown on each side. The false teeth and crowns are usually made of porcelain or resin. Although these dental materials are certainly durable, they are not designed to handle pressure from extremely hard items. In addition, it is important to avoid biting on rigid items that are not edible. Some people regularly bite on pencils or pens as they work. The bite pressure can still damage the appliance.
Wear a mouth guard if you grind your teeth at night.
If you grind your teeth at night, you likely grind without being aware that you are doing it. Thus, it is important to wear a mouth guard to absorb some of the bite force.
Without a proper mouth guard, the grinding can chip or crack components of your dental bridge. The guard can be purchased at a local drug store or obtained from your dental office. The rubbery material from which a protective mouth guard is made can help absorb excessive bite force, which can damage the dental bridge or shift the implants out of position and cause them to need replacement.
To learn more ways to care for your dental bridge, schedule a consultation with a dentist like those at Dansville Family Dental Care.
Share1 June 2016
Do you remember the last time you looked at your smile and really loved what you saw? A few years ago I started spending more time analyzing my appearance, and I noticed that my teeth were seriously lacking. I knew that I had to do something to improve the situation, so I began focusing on loving my smile by getting some work done. I started talking with a dentist about how he could help, and it was really incredible to see the simple difference that he was able to make. Within a few years, my smile looked and felt completely different, and I was really pleased with the results. Check out this blog for great information on making your smile more beautiful.
