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If you need to have a dental bridge put in to preserve your oral health, there are some effective ways to maintain the care of your teeth while you recover from the procedure. Even though you might be cautious about performing your normal oral care routine as you heal, neglect can lead to further problems. Here are some of the best ways to keep your teeth healthy while recovering from getting a dental bridge.
Make Sure to Floss Regularly
The way that you floss doesn’t have to change a lot after getting a new dental bridge. It’s important to floss under the false tooth where your bridge is located once a day. You can also try using a proxy toothbrush to get in between teeth better and clean food and germs out more effectively. Flossing can help in so many different ways, but especially when healing after you have had a bridge installed. You have to keep your mouth clean and clear of leftover food to eliminate bacteria and their growth.
Brush with the Right Toothpaste
A new dental bridge should be a wakeup call for you to take care of your teeth even better so that you hopefully don’t experience any future major dental problems. One of the best ways to improve your dental care routine is to use a toothpaste that delivers a deeper cleaning action. Any type of toothpaste can be used while recovering from a bridge procedure, but using a more advanced brand that cleans deeper and more thoroughly will be to your advantage. Mouthwash is the final line of defense against infections of the teeth and gums. Be sure to use an alcohol-free mouthwash at least once, if not twice a day when recovering from a bridge installment. This can go a long way to keep your mouth clean and clear.
Go to All Recommended Follow-up Dental Visits
Visiting a dentist for any recommended follow-up appointments will be especially important as you recover from your procedure. Your dentist can check to make sure that the bridge is still in place and that all other teeth are still healthy.
You can also ask your dentist for additional care tips that can help you take even better care of your oral health while adjusting to having your new dental bridge. Dental bridges can be helpful, but you definitely have to take care of them as they settle into place after installation.
Be careful and follow all your dentist’s recommendations, especially when it comes to cleaning. Do everything on time.
Refrain from Eating Hard or Chewy Foods
Since you’ll likely naturally avoid chewing food in the area of the bridge, your other teeth might bare more force than normal. Hard foods can put more strain on your teeth and cause excessive wear on them. You should also avoid eating chewy foods until you get used to having your new bridge in your mouth.
To make eating easier while you recover, consider cutting food into small pieces so that they require less effort to chew and swallow. Some people think it is cool to chew on ice cubes, but it simply is not. Even small pieces of “hospital” ice cubes can put hairline fractures in teeth. Pathogens can then get into the tooth and cause infection and possibly, an abscess. Be sure to never chew on ice.
You can still maintain the excellent health of your teeth after receiving a new dental bridge. Following through on care can prevent problems for your other teeth that could necessitate additional procedures.
