If you’re concerned about keeping your teeth and gums healthy, you’re in the right place. Jonathan Portner, who provides a top quality, caring service to his patients at the Portner Pittack Dental Practice, is here to pass on his expert advice to ease your worries about the health of your teeth and gums. Here he answers a question about how to stop food getting stuck in your bridges…
Question:
"I regularly get bits of food caught in my bridgework and have great difficulty getting them out. Is there anything you can suggest?"
Jonathan says:
"Food should not get caught by fixed bridges and I would be concerned as this could cause gingivitis (gum disease), caries (decay), bad breath, failure and ultimately loss of the bridge.
One of the most likely causes could be the design of the bridge. Ideally there should be cleansable gaps between the bridge retainers and the pontics or false teeth.
Before I fit a bridge, I make sure the technician constructs it to my design, taking the cleaning into account.
After fitting the bridge, I show the patient how to clean it on a daily basis. This includes flossing the front and back of the bridge, cleaning in between the individual teeth with interdental brushes and below the false teeth with either Superfloss or floss threaded underneath with a floss threader.
Otherwise, food and bacteria get caught and break down causing the problems mentioned.
There are many of these bridge products available but you should be shown by your dentist or hygienist which ones fit your bridge, how to place them and use them correctly .Your dentist will assess your individual dexterity before advising you, which is better than trial and error.
If the problem persists and is more to do with the bridge design, you should have the bridge examined, x-rayed, the problem diagnosed and consider having the bridge replaced with individual crowns and implants. These would act as individual natural teeth and can be cleaned easily with regular floss.
Consider taking a second opinion from a dentist experienced in crowns, bridges and implants."
You can find out more about how Jonathan Portner can help keep your teeth healthy and the services his practice provides here.
www.portnerpittack.co.uk
020 8349 3924