A dental bridge is a fixed prosthetic restoration designed to replace one or more missing teeth. It joins an artificial tooth (pontic) to crowns placed on natural teeth or implants on either side of the gap. This appliance “bridges the gap,” restoring function and appearance. You can eat normally with a dental bridge, but success requires adopting careful habits and making adjustments to protect the restoration long-term.
Eating Immediately After Bridge Placement
Immediately following bridge placement, temporary dietary modifications are necessary, especially if a temporary bridge was used or if the supporting teeth were recently prepared. Dentists advise restricting the diet to very soft foods for the first 24 hours. This allows the bonding cement time to fully set and stabilize the restoration. Ideal foods during this brief period include yogurt, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, and pureed soups, as they require minimal chewing force.
If a temporary bridge is used, it is held by less durable cement and is vulnerable to dislodgement or breakage. During this temporary phase (a few days to a couple of weeks), patients must avoid sticky and overly chewy items that could pull the temporary crown off. Avoid biting directly into hard foods and chew primarily on the opposite side of the mouth to prevent unnecessary pressure. Full adjustment to a regular diet is gradual, typically taking two weeks to a month as the gums and soft tissues heal.
Permanent Food Limitations
Although a bridge is built to withstand normal chewing, certain foods pose a permanent risk to the restoration’s integrity and should be avoided or consumed cautiously. Very hard foods, such as ice, hard candies, nuts, and unpopped popcorn kernels, place excessive compressive force on the bridge material. This pressure risks chipping the porcelain surface or fracturing the underlying structure.
Sticky and extremely chewy foods are hazardous because they exert a strong pulling force on the bridge, potentially compromising the cement seal. Items like caramels, taffy, chewing gum, and gummy candies can adhere to the bridge. Pulling these away may loosen the restoration from the supporting abutment teeth. A weakened cement seal allows microleakage, which can lead to decay of the natural teeth underneath the crowns.
Tough or dense meats and crusty breads also require significant, repetitive chewing forces that strain the bridge and supporting teeth. High-force chewing contributes to wear and tear, reducing the prosthetic’s lifespan. Cutting these foods into small, manageable pieces before eating is a simple preventative measure.
Protecting Your Bridge While Eating
Protecting a dental bridge requires mindful eating mechanics and diligent post-meal hygiene to maximize its lifespan and maintain the health of supporting teeth. A foundational habit is cutting all firm foods, such as raw vegetables or hard-crusted bread, into small, bite-sized portions. This practice reduces the initial force required to break down the food and prevents unnecessary strain on the bridge structure.
When chewing, distribute the pressure as evenly as possible across the dental arches, a technique known as bilateral chewing. Concentrating all chewing force directly onto the bridge or abutment teeth accelerates wear on the restoration and strains the supporting natural teeth. Slowing the pace of eating allows for more controlled chewing and helps prevent accidental biting or excessive pressure.
Immediate post-meal care is essential, focusing on the area directly beneath the pontic where food debris easily becomes trapped. Since a regular floss string cannot pass through the fixed bridge, specialized oral hygiene tools are necessary.
Specialized Cleaning Tools
Using a floss threader, which guides the floss under the bridge, or a water flosser is necessary to remove trapped particles and plaque buildup. Regular and thorough cleaning of this area prevents the accumulation of bacteria that could cause decay in the abutment teeth or lead to gum inflammation.