Tips To Get Off To The Right Start With Your New Dental Bridges

Getting one or more dental bridges installed can restore your smile and make it easier to eat and chew your food. You'll also likely have greater self-confidence if your decaying teeth were visible to others before you went to the dentist for a fix. But with all of that said, you will still have to use caution during the first few days or weeks with this new installation in your mouth. Here's how to get off to the right start with your new dental bridges.

Avoid Hot and Cold Foods

In the immediate aftermath of getting dental bridges installed, it's not uncommon for some patients to report increased sensitivity to hot or cold foods. You'll need to give your mouth time to recover from the installation of the bridges and adapt to your new situation. Try to avoid food or beverages that are obviously hot or cold, such as coffee or ice cream and ice cubes. It may also help if you start brushing with a toothpaste designed for people with sensitive teeth. If the sensitivity continues for too long or is simply unbearable, contact your dentist for help.

Flossing is Very Important

Yes, every dentist tells every patient that flossing is important, and well, that's largely because it's true. But flossing is even more important for patients with dental bridges. This is because of the way the crown sits on top of your natural tooth. You will want to work the floss in between the crown and your natural teeth because this is an area where food can often get lodged and lead to a cavity if left untreated. Get off to the right start by flossing after every meal or as often as you can, and hopefully it will soon become second nature for you.

Keep Especially Hard Foods Away

Dental bridges are built to be sturdy, but you shouldn't test them out by intentionally chewing very hard foods with them. If you still want to eat nuts or something else especially hard, try to gently bite down on these with whichever part of your mouth still has just natural teeth with no bridges installed. Your bridge might be in danger of breaking if you focus the chewing right on top of it. In general, though, crunching down on hard substances isn't really good for your natural teeth either, so eat these foods in moderation.

Talk to your dentist today for more tips and best practices when it comes to your dental bridges.

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