Maintaining good oral hygiene is essential, and it becomes even more crucial when you have dental bridges or crowns. Adequate care of dental bridges and crowns helps them last longer and prevents potential oral health problems in the future.
The oral hygiene basics—brushing and flossing—are still critical for preserving the health of your teeth and gums when you have a dental crown or bridge, but dental care tools, including floss threaders, interdental brushes, and water flossers, can also support your oral hygiene.
With the right tools, techniques, and regular dental cleanings, keeping your bridges, crowns, teeth, and gums healthy can be simple.
How Do You Clean Dental Bridges & Crowns?
Oral hygiene is critical when you have dental bridges or crowns—proper care helps prevent damage and maximize their lifespan. If well taken care of, dental bridges can last from 5–15 years, and crowns can have a lifespan of up to 15 years.
Brushing
Properly brushing your teeth is always essential, but it becomes even more crucial when you have dental crowns or bridges.
It’s important to avoid using a toothbrush with stiff bristles or abrasive toothpaste, as they can cause damage to crowns or bridges and wear away the enamel of the surrounding teeth.
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean your gums and the teeth around your restorations. Always brush for 2–3 minutes twice daily, and give extra attention to the areas around crowns and bridges.
Flossing
Flossing can feel a bit awkward when you have dental restorations such as crowns or bridges. However, it’s crucial to find a suitable flossing method for your needs and make it a part of your daily routine.
There are a variety of flossing options to help make flossing with dental restorations more accessible, including:
If you need help determining which option is right for you, speak with your dentist or dental hygienist. We can recommend an appropriate flossing method.
Mouthwash
Mouthwash helps eliminate bacteria and reduce plaque buildup around dental restorations. It’s essential to use a fluoride mouthwash that’s safe for your dental restorations and won’t cause damage to the crowns or bridges.
Bad Habits to Avoid
A healthy oral care routine for crowns and bridges also includes avoiding certain bad habits that can damage your restorations, such as:
- Biting your nails
- Chewing ice or hard candy
- Grinding your teeth
- Smoking
Some habits can cause significant damage to your dental restorations and lead to their early deterioration. Additionally, you should avoid using your teeth to open packaging—or for any purpose other than chewing food.
What Are Dental Bridges & Crowns?
Dental Bridges
A bridge is an artificial tooth or several teeth designed to replace one or more missing teeth in your mouth. The neighbouring natural teeth can sometimes be used to anchor bridges in place, but they can also be secured with crowns on the adjacent teeth or a dental implant.
There are 3 significant types of dental bridges, including:
- Traditional bridges: These bridges are secured to existing teeth on either side of a missing tooth.
- Implant bridges: These bridges rely on dental implants to provide support when there aren’t enough healthy teeth to support a bridge.
- Maryland bridges: These bridges are made from a metal framework with wings cemented to the neighbouring teeth and are typically used for missing front teeth.
Each type of bridge can be custom-made to fit your mouth and provide a look that blends with your teeth.
Crowns
Crowns are single-tooth restorations that fully cover damaged or decayed teeth. They can be made from similar materials as a bridge and are designed to be durable and provide a natural-looking restoration for teeth that have been significantly compromised.
Crowns can be used for several reasons, including:
- Repairing chips or cracks in teeth
- Supporting teeth after a root canal
- Protecting a decayed tooth
- Restoring a tooth that has undergone significant structural damage
Why Should You Restore Damaged Teeth?
A dental bridge or crown can transform the look of your smile, but there are also practical benefits. Your dentist may recommend these restorative dentistry procedures to do the following:
- Improve your ability to chew effectively
- Restore more comfortable speech
- Prevent the muscles in the face from sagging due to missing teeth
- Stop nearby teeth from shifting to fill the gap
Dental bridges and crowns can support symmetrical function in your mouth and provide durable, long-lasting results.
Professional Cleanings Are Critical
Oral hygiene is crucial, especially when you have dental bridges and crowns. Professional cleanings from your dental team are essential, as we have the tools and knowledge to clean your bridges and crowns effectively.
Regular professional cleanings also help maintain your dental health, prevent gum diseases, and help detect issues before they escalate. Schedule a dental cleaning and exam with Zen Dental Centre to get support for your oral health and your bridges and crowns.
