A New Smile Was the Best Investment of My Life

A New Smile Was the Best Investment of My Life

Tips For Finding The Cause Of Bad Breath Around A Dental Bridge

Oscar Allen

Bad breath issues that begin after dental work can be an unwelcome surprise. If the work involved the installation of a dental bridge, the culprit could be simply the bacteria in your mouth combined with the bridgework. While you don't want to give up the bridge, you do want to combat the bad breath issue. The following tips can help.

Tip #1: Try water flossing

The most common cause of dental bridge-induced bad breath is that small pieces of food and plaque are getting trapped. Sometimes it can be difficult to remove these, even if you are a meticulous brusher and flosser. Water flossing or water picks use a jet of water to rinse out all the nooks and crannies between your teeth and the bridgework. It can be easier to aim the jet of water to some of these hard to reach areas rather than floss, so switching to water flossing once or twice daily may be sufficient to stop the odor.

Tip #2: Have the fit checked

A bridge usually consists of two crowns that are seated over the healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth. When fitted properly, there should be no space between the crowns and the teeth they encase. Occasionally, though, the fit may not be perfect or the sealing cement may have a small breach around the margin of the tooth near the gum line. This can happen years down the line, since the cement can begin to wear away in older bridges. When this occurs, bacteria and food can get underneath the crown, which can then lead to odor. Even worse, this can also make the tooth beneath the crown more prone to decay. You will need to see your dentist to have the fit checked and repaired if necessary.

Tip #3: Damaged bridgework

This could be due to wear and tear or because of a fault at installation. The most common cause would small hairline cracks in either the crown or the actual false tooth, which has allowed bacteria or food to become lodged out of sight. Brushing and flossing alone may not be enough to dislodge this food or bacterial debris, so you will need to schedule a dental appointment to have the problem addressed.

It only takes a small amount of food or the right type of bacteria to create a bad odor. If you can't quickly eliminate the problem yourself with increased dental hygiene, the best option is to contact a dentist like those represented at http://www.fortcollinsdentist.com. Keep in mind, odor can sometimes indicate decay or a more severe dental issue, so it isn't something to be ignored.

 


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About Me
A New Smile Was the Best Investment of My Life

I grew up in a home with parents who did not insist on good dental hygiene. By the time I was old enough to know better, some damage had already been done. I had many cavities, crooked teeth, and some discoloration on my teeth. I knew it would not be easy to take my smile from where it was to where it is today, but I was determined to finally have nice teeth. I visited a dentist who was very nice and never judged me. We made a dental plan together. Spreading the procedures out over time made it much easier to afford them. I now have almost perfect teeth after all that hard work! I created this blog to help others who have dental problems that stem from bad childhood habits know there is hope! It is never too late to start seeing the dentist!