Dental bridges are an excellent way to replace missing teeth, as they restore chewing function and the appearance of your smile. However, they require special care to serve you for as long as possible. In this article, we answer a question our clients frequently ask: how do you clean under a dental bridge?

How Do You Clean Under a Dental Bridge?

Thoroughly cleaning underneath the bridge is necessary because food residue and plaque can easily accumulate there, leading to bad breath, gum disease, and damage to adjacent teeth. Let us look at the essential tools and techniques for maintaining good oral hygiene with a dental bridge.

Tools for Cleaning Under a Dental Bridge

It might be challenging to clean under a dental bridge with the traditional flossing method, so we recommend choosing one of the following tools to make the task easier:

Floss threaders are small, flexible loops made of plastic that help guide dental floss under the bridge
Super floss is a pre-cut floss that has a stiff end to make threading the floss under the bridge easier
Interdental brushes are tiny brushes designed to make cleaning in hard-to-reach areas easier
A water flosser is a device that delivers a pressurized stream of water to help dislodge plaque and food debris from under the gum line and between the teeth. It is recommended to combine a water flosser with traditional flossing to prevent tartar buildup and gum disease.

Techniques for Cleaning Under a Dental Bridge

To effectively clean under and around a dental bridge, we recommend following these steps:

Start your routine with flushing the space under the bridge with a water flosser to dislodge food residue and plaque
Then proceed to floss with super floss, an interdental brush, or traditional floss combined with a floss threader. Pull the floss through until the middle section is under the bridge, then gently move the floss back and forth along its underside.
Do not forget to clean the anchor teeth. Wrap the floss around the anchor tooth to form a tight “C” shape, then gently slide the floss down, being careful not to cause gum bleeding. Then use up-and-down motions to remove the plaque.
After water flossing and traditional flossing, brush your teeth with a soft or medium-soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle, pointing downward into the gum line when cleaning your bottom teeth, or upward when cleaning your top teeth. Make sure to clean thoroughly at the gumline, but be gentle enough not to damage the gum tissue. Clean with small circular motions for several seconds on each anchor tooth and then sweep the bristles away from the gums toward the chewing surface.
Use a monotuft brush once a week to thoroughly clean each tooth in the mouth, including the teeth supporting the bridge. When cleaning the anchor teeth, hold the brush against the back edge of the anchor tooth where it connects to the bridge and clean around the tooth’s surface. Monotuft brushes are an excellent addition to everyone’s oral hygiene routine, as they help remove plaque in areas that traditional toothbrushes can miss.
Lastly, rinse your mouth after every meal to prevent food residue from lingering under the bridge and causing bad breath.

Make an Appointment at TruGlo La Jolla

If you require oral health or dental appliance maintenance, or need a new restoration, do not hesitate to schedule an appointment with an experienced family and cosmetic dentist at TruGlo La Jolla. We are looking forward to your visit.