How to Adjust to a Dental Bridge

A dental bridge is a fixed partial denture that replaces missing teeth. It is anchored onto the gums and cemented into place. Unlike dentures, a bridge can only be removed by a dentist, and it eliminates the need for nightly removal and cleaning. Most people get a bridge after living with missing teeth for months or years, and it takes awhile to get to adjust to a new dental bridge.

Instructions

• 1

  Follow the instructions your dentist gives you. He or she will give you a sheet with directions for care during the first day after your procedure. Call your dentist if there is pain or excessive bleeding.

• 2

  Let your mouth and other teeth adjust naturally to the bridge. This may take a few days to a few weeks. If you had missing teeth or removable dentures, your mouth adjusted to that and you learned to speak and chew a certain way. Now you need to let your mouth adjust to the bridge.

• 3

  Eat a sensible diet and avoid chewy or sugary foods until your mouth adjusts to the bridge. Avoid nuts, popcorn and hard candy.

• 4

  Brush and floss carefully around the bridge. Use a floss holder to clean under and around it. Keep food particles from sticking in the gum line under the bridge with floss and a WaterPik.

• 5

  Speak normally. Your speech patterns may change as your mouth and tongue adjust to the new dental fixture, but this will pass.