Flossing with Crowns and Bridges
Flossing is one of the critical steps in a great dental hygiene routine. It’s important to remove small pieces of food from hard-to-reach places in your mouth where your larger toothbrush can’t reach. It’s also vital to keep your gums healthy and avoid the build-up of plaque and dental calculus.
Flossing becomes even more critical when you have dental crowns or bridges. A dental bridge usually consists of two crowns that are placed on either side of the gap over your teeth or implants. A pontic joins the two crowns and fills in the gap.
Dental crowns and bridges are offered in different metals, including gold, silver, and porcelain.
After your dental crown treatment, you may be told to avoid flossing for several days. Instead, you will be told to use a floss threader for a while until you’re able to resume a regular flossing routine.
It’s important to continue flossing even after getting dental crowns and bridges. This is necessary to maintain excellent oral hygiene. However, the process might differ after your dental crown treatment due to the implants.
When cleaning your dental implant bridge, the best thing to use is a floss threader. This has a small loop at one end and a stiff plastic edge, perfect for threading. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to correctly use a floss threader:
- Thread around 18 inches of dental floss through the loop.
- Point the straight edge of the threader between the teeth or implants and gently guide it between the teeth, starting from the side of your gum that’s by your lip.
- Pull the floss through the teeth, keeping one end of the floss in your hand.
- Remove the threader and two the two ends around your middle fingers. Work the floss around the teeth or implant that you’re cleaning, so it forms a C shape.
- Move the flood gently up and side to clean the whole surface.
You can also use an interproximal brush to clean your dental implants. This is a small device that has a thin bristle at one end. The bristle can be used to clean your implants thoroughly. You should always choose an interproximal brush with a plastic bristle, not a metal wire, as metal can scratch your implant.
Flossing with a dental crown may take you a little longer, but you must spend the time cleaning the whole surface of your implants. This will maximize the lifespan of your crown and maintain proper oral hygiene.
If you’re looking for a dental bridge service in Markham, get in touch with Markham 7 Dental today. We can fit your dental crowns and give you expert advice on the perfect flossing techniques.
