You must have come across a lot of people who complain about the problem of bad breath because of fixed dentures. It may sound strange to you but, it is a fact that fixed bridges play a significant role in it. Yet the fact is that fixed bridge itself is not responsible for bad breath. It’s the bacteria growing there which is responsible. If the bridge is not prepared well and there are gaps between the bridge and gum line, food particles may get stuck there. In such a case if you do not brush your teeth properly and regularly, or otherwise do not maintain a good hygiene, bacteria can start growing there and cause bad breath.
Foul breath is very embarrassing for a person and can often lead to discomfort. You may feel self isolation and at times filled with a feeling of shame. It becomes such a personal and embarrassing issue that many people do not want to discuss with anyone. However, to get the problem solved you must go to your dentist for help. If the underlying issue causing the problem is detected and addressed, you can be free of bad breath.
Bacteria is the main reason of foul smell in the mouth. It must be accumulating and multiplying somewhere in your mouth which is causing bad breath. The main investigation must be to know in which part of your mouth they are carrying out the activity.
There are high chances that the bad breath can be due to some defect in your bridge as well. Your dentist from whom you have got tooth restoration done can advice you better about the probable cause of bad breath. He has made it and so he will be in a better position to understand the problem and how to fix the issue, because the problem can be due to many reasons.
There can be some problem in the pontic design. Pontic of the bridge is the part which replaces the missing tooth. It must be designed in such a way that it helps auto cleaning and prevents food debris from getting trapped.
Due to marginal microleakage, you may be facing the issue of foul breath. Technicians by taking the impression of the patient try hard to make bridges which can perfectly fit on the tooth. It may appear that the bridge fits perfectly on the tooth, but in reality it does not. To fix the bridge, dentists as a glue use cement which does not last for a long time. The parts which are in contact with the oral cavity dissolve over time. This leads to leaking of saliva and debris in the area between the crown and the tooth. This becomes a great place for bacteria to keep on growing and multiplying. This generates foul smell. As the crown becomes older the problem of bad breath intensifies.
There are often faults in preparing the bridge. The labs where dental bridges are made do not always make things perfectly. At times mistakes may happen and the dentist may not notice the problem. This can lead to the growing of bacteria if the bridge is not fitting completely. More often than not, this usually happens that the bridge is not a perfect fit.
There are problems during the preparation and taking impressions for the bridge. Mistakes occur in the lab all the time. Though a 0.5mm error in preparation may appear to be quite small, but in the long run, even such a small error can be the cause of failure of the bridge. Taking impressions of the tooth is vital, because it is the basic framework that the lab uses for making the restoration. The dentist has to be extra careful to detect any inaccurate impressions.
Fixed bridge is basically a fake tooth that takes the place of the missing tooth. It can be taken out like dentures for proper cleaning. That is why fixed bridge requires good dental hygiene. If the daily cleaning routine is not maintained it can lead to bad breath. The area surrounding the bridge must be properly cleaned. As you are unable to clean the region you used to do it before, it requires extra effort. The area under the false tooth must be cleaned at least twice a day. Remaining teeth also should be brushed properly as they serve as foundation of the bridge.
Flossing the dental bridge is equally required as it helps in preventing accumulation of tooth plaque and harmful bacteria. If you have replaced two teeth with bridges, then four teeth will be involved in all. Two teeth will be the replaced and the two teeth on each side of the crown. It means you cannot slide floss between these teeth as you did before. But by using bridge floss thread you maintain the hygiene. It is a flexible plastic piece having a loop on one side where you can thread the floss. Pull out some 18 inches of floss, then insert this through floss threader, and then use this threader for inserting the floss below your bridge. Floss for removing food particles as well as plaque from sides of the teeth and also under the bridge.
If your dental bridge is new, you are advised to eat soft food until you get used to the bridge. Eating hard food items may be tough on your teeth. It is also advisable to have a balanced and nutritious diet for good dental hygiene, which is anyway good for overall health.
Visit your dentist regularly if you have undergone bridge procedure. You may feel that everything is perfect, but even if you are not facing any problem – foul smell or something else, still he can examine the dental area and check the condition of your bridge.
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