Your new bridge effectively restores the structure and appearance of a tooth that was lost due to advanced tooth decay, fracture or extraction. While the materials of your new bridge will not be subject to tooth decay, it will still need to be cleaned and maintained as an important part of your daily oral hygiene routine.
Periodontal disease, caused by hardened tartar at the gum line can pose a serious threat to your bridge in several different ways.
If periodontal disease is allowed to advance unchecked into periodontitis, your gums might start to pull back from the base of your teeth. This can create pockets of infection at the base of your teeth where the ends of your bridge is cemented to the abutments. This could allow bacteria to weaken the cement holding your bridge in place. Left unchecked periodontitis can result in a loss bone structure at the base of the abutments, causing one or both of them to weaken or become compromised.
Brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day will help to remove plaque and food particles before they can harden into tartar. If you are having trouble cleaning around the bridge, you might want to try using interdental brush, a floss threader with waxy floss or a dental water jet.
If you have questions about how to clean your bridge, feel free to call Smiles Unlimited at 925.344.5757 to schedule an appointment. We look forward to helping you find the best way to maintain your bridge.