Top Oral Care Tips for Bridges and Crowns
Damaged your tooth from decay? Lost a permanent tooth from an accent? Dental bridges and crowns are two of the best ways to achieve or restore a healthy smile. After a visit or two to the dentist’s office, you can have your smile repaired, and look as beautiful as ever. Now you can rest easy knowing that you have an improved smile that you can show to the whole world. But just because they are not real teeth does not mean that you do not have to care for them.
You need to care for your dental bridges and crowns in the same way that you take care of your car. If you keep your vehicle in pristine condition, then you can use it longer. It is pretty much the same with dental crowns, when you properly take care of them, you can enjoy using them for years. Otherwise, you will have to get them repaired or even replaced, just like you would with a car that is ill-maintained.
So how should keep your dental bridges and crowns in excellent condition? Keep in mind these top oral care tips.
- Establish a rigorous oral care regimen. This is perhaps the simplest way to take care of your bridges and crowns and prevent decay and gum infections at the same time. A good oral care regimen means regular brushing and flossing: doing so twice daily and after meals as much as possible.
- Take care of the gums. One way to keep your bridges and crowns in place is to keep the gums healthy. Infected gums can cause the appliance and the teeth surrounding it to become loose. In bridges and crowns, there is a small gap between the gum and the denture, which can become a growing site for bacteria and plaque. This space can also be used to infect the restored tooth and even the gums. Clean the space between the gap and denture by flossing around the crown. Use a toothbrush to carefully brush the restored tooth’s base. To really get to the bacteria and their hiding spot, rinse your mouth using an antiseptic mouthwash that contains fluoride.
- Never use bridges and crowns as tools. When you are doing certain tasks, it is easy to just take the nearest tool within your reach to use, even when it is not the right one for the job. At times, we use our mouths and teeth. Although bridges and crowns are strong, they can still break. Never open bottles and packaging using your teeth. Also, do not use it to crush or cut.
- Go on regular checkups. Similar to cars, bridges, and crowns also need to be serviced by a trained professional from time to time. Never wait for something to go wrong before you get it checked. Go on regular dental exams so your dentist can look into the condition of your teeth. In a routine exam, the dentist will make sure that your teeth and gums are healthy, and see to it that the crowns are properly fitted to prevent them from coming loose and falling off. Finally, they will check for a bad bite. If they find any problems, they should be able to correct them immediately.
Dental bridges and crowns are designed to last for years, so get the most out of your bridges and crowns by properly taking care of them. After all, the benefits that you reap from taking care of your teeth will largely benefit you. Finally, do not hesitate to talk to a medical professional to help you learn more tips on how to take care of these dental appliances.
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