A dental bridge is a fixed prosthetic appliance designed to replace one or more missing teeth, restoring both the function and appearance of the smile. This restoration is cemented onto the adjacent natural teeth or implants, which are known as abutments. Because the bridge forms a continuous, connected unit, the standard method of flossing by snapping the strand between teeth becomes impossible. Maintaining hygiene underneath the artificial tooth, or pontic, presents a unique challenge that requires a specialized tool to prevent health complications.
The Essential Flossing Accessory
The most effective accessory used to clean beneath a dental bridge is the floss threader. This simple device is typically made of a small, flexible piece of plastic, resembling a needle with a large eye or loop at one end. The threader’s purpose is to act as a guide, providing a stiff end to navigate the tight space under the bridge. The tool itself is not the cleaning agent; it merely provides the necessary mechanism to transport regular dental floss into the inaccessible area. Once the threader pulls the floss through, the traditional floss is correctly positioned to mechanically remove plaque.
Understanding Bridge Structure and Cleaning Gaps
A dental bridge consists of two primary components: the abutments, which are the crowns cemented onto the anchoring teeth, and the pontic, which is the false tooth suspended between them. Unlike natural teeth, where floss can be inserted from the top, the pontic is fused to the abutments, creating a solid structure that blocks vertical access. The underside of the pontic rests directly against the gum tissue, leaving a small, crescent-shaped space. This gap is a perfect environment for food debris and bacterial plaque to accumulate, leading to inflammation and infection. If this area is not thoroughly cleaned daily, the supporting abutment teeth risk developing decay or periodontal disease, potentially compromising the entire bridge structure.
Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Threader
The process begins by preparing a length of standard dental floss, typically about 15 to 18 inches long. One end of this floss is then carefully inserted through the loop of the floss threader, much like threading a sewing needle. The stiff, pointed end of the plastic threader is then gently maneuvered into the space between the gum tissue and the underside of the pontic.
You guide the threader completely through the gap until the stiff end emerges on the opposite side of the bridge. Next, you grasp the threader and pull it, which draws the dental floss completely beneath the pontic. Once the floss is positioned, you release the threader and hold the floss taut with both hands.
The main cleaning action involves moving the floss back and forth and up and down, using a gentle “shoe-shine” motion against the tissue-facing surface of the pontic. It is important to also wrap the floss around the side surfaces of the abutment teeth that are adjacent to the false tooth, cleaning their margins just below the gum line. After cleaning the area thoroughly, the floss is simply pulled out from one side, and the process is repeated for any other pontics in the mouth.
Alternative Cleaning Methods
Beyond the traditional threader, several other tools offer effective solutions for bridge maintenance.
Superfloss
One popular alternative is Superfloss, which integrates a stiff, pre-threaded section directly onto the strand of floss, eliminating the need for a separate plastic loop. This specialized floss also incorporates a thicker, spongy section designed for enhanced mechanical plaque removal under the bridge.
Interdental Brushes
Interdental brushes are small, cone-shaped tools with bristles that can be inserted directly beneath the pontic to scrub the tissue-contacting surface. These come in various sizes to fit different gap widths and are highly effective for direct plaque removal.
Oral Irrigators
Oral irrigators, commonly known as water flossers, use a pulsating stream of water to flush out loose debris and bacteria from the difficult-to-reach areas. While water flossers are excellent supplementary tools for rinsing and reducing inflammation, they do not replace the necessary mechanical scraping action of dental floss for removing sticky plaque biofilm.