4 Foods and Drinks to Avoid With a Dental Bridge
While dental bridges improve your ability to chew all of your favorite foods, certain foods and beverages can damage dental restorations or cause discoloration, resulting in less-than-ideal results.
At Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry Center, serving Mexicali, Yuma, and beyond from Los Algodones, Mexico, provides custom dental restorations like bridges. While a good oral care routine and regular checkups with your dentist can prolong the lifespan of your dental restoration, there are some foods and drinks to avoid with dental bridges. Let us break down four categories for you to maintain a beautiful smile and a functional restoration.
1. Sticky Foods
Sticky foods can cause your bridge to come out of place over time. We recommend avoiding foods like:
- Gum
- Caramel
- Taffy
You may still be able to enjoy these foods if you chew them in areas of your mouth that don’t have a dental bridge, but be sure to maintain your oral hygiene as these foods can get stuck underneath your dental bridge.
2. Hard Foods
While our bridges are made from durable materials like porcelain and zirconia, they can still become damaged and patients should be mindful when eating foods like:
- Hard candy
- Nuts
- Chips
- Pretzels
- Popcorn kernels
- Raw vegetables
- Ice
Damage from these foods can develop over time or suddenly. If a bridge becomes chipped or fractured, the gums and adjacent teeth can become more susceptible to decay and other dental concerns. A damaged bridge must be repaired or replaced right away.
3. Sugary Foods
If you consume sugary foods and forgo an oral hygiene routine, bacteria will flourish. While a bridge won’t decay, the teeth that support the bridge can. When this happens, the abutment teeth will have to be treated and the dental bridge will no longer be secure. It will have to be replaced. Some of the worst sugary foods for your teeth include:
- Sour candy
- Dried fruits
- Ice cream
- Carbonated drinks
These food items contain processed or refined sugars which are particularly damaging to your enamel. They form a sticky residue on your teeth that can only be removed with brushing flossing, mouthwash, and dental cleanings.
4. Foods and Beverages That Stain
While your bridge is resistant to stains, your teeth are not. If you want to maintain a uniform shade throughout your smile, we recommend avoiding foods and beverages that can stain or discolor your enamel, such as:
- Soy sauce
- Tomato sauce
- Coffee
- Tea
- Fruit juice
- Red wine
- Dark soda
Consuming these foods and beverages regularly can stain your teeth over time. You may require a teeth whitening treatment to restore a uniform appearance. While you can still enjoy these foods and drinks, we recommend minimizing your intake.
Complete Your Smile With a Dental Bridge - Contact Us Today
We can provide you with either a traditional or implant-supported bridge made from durable and lifelike porcelain or zirconia. We can also help you repair or replace your bridge if it’s become damaged. If you’re ready to restore your smile, fill out our contact form or call (928) 792-2156.
