Maintaining a dental bridge requires a bit more effort than natural teeth, but it saves you from expensive repairs later. Here is how to keep everything fresh and healthy.
First, invest in some bridge threaders or ‘super floss.’ These have a firm tip that you can guide into the space between the bridge and your gum line. Once it’s through, use a gentle back-and-forth motion to clear out trapped food.
Next, try using interdental brushes for the larger gaps. They are much easier to handle if you have stiff joints in your fingers. Just a few seconds each night makes a huge difference.
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I started using those little brushes last year and my dentist actually noticed the difference at my last cleaning. Total game changer.
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Do you find the threaders hard to use? I struggle with the coordination sometimes.
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Margie, it takes practice. I found that looking in a magnifying mirror helps a lot when you are first learning where to aim the tip.
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I personally prefer a water flosser for my bridge. It feels much cleaner, though my hygienist says I still need to use the manual threader once in a while.
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I tried the ‘super floss’ but it always seemed to shred on me. Maybe I’m being too rough?
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If your floss is shredding, you might have a rough edge on the bridge. You should definitely have your dentist check that out. It shouldn’t be sharp.
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Thanks for the tips! I just got my first bridge last month and I’ve been terrified of breaking it.
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The interdental brushes are definitely the way to go for us folks with arthritis. I get the ones with the slightly thicker handles. Much easier to grip than a thin piece of string.
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What size brush do you use? I see so many different colors at the drugstore and it’s confusing.
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Bob, usually the yellow or red ones are good for bridges, but your dentist can actually measure the gaps and tell you exactly which size fits best without forcing it.
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I had a bridge fail because I didn’t clean under it properly. The anchor tooth got a cavity. It was a very expensive lesson to learn. Don’t skip the flossing!
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Does anyone use those little picks with the rubber tips? My wife swears by them.
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Those rubber picks are okay for a quick clean after lunch, but they don’t replace the deep cleaning of the threader floss in my experience.
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Great advice all around. It’s all about keeping those anchor teeth strong so the bridge stays put.
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