At first glance, you might assume dental bridges are foolproof. That’s a common thought – prosthetic teeth can often seem invincible. Still, the truth is quite the opposite: various things can make a dental bridge fail. If you aren’t careful, you’ll have to replace the new teeth soon after getting them. Luckily, there are steps you can take to avoid that outcome. Read on to learn three major causes of dental bridge failure, as well as ways to prevent it.

What Causes Dental Bridge Failure?

In reality, many factors can result in dental bridge failure. Some of the most common ones include the following:

Poor Oral Hygiene

Even if they aren't "real" pearly whites, dental bridges require proper oral care. Anything less will cause them to fail quickly.

Remember, dental bridges depend on abutment teeth. The nearby chompers keep them steady and secure. Still, a buildup of plaque will easily harm the abutments. Said teeth could then decay and destabilize the bridge. Left unchecked, this instability would only trigger bridge failure.

Bad Oral Habits

Ultimately, some oral habits aren’t just bad for natural teeth. They’re also bad for replacements like dental bridges.

You see, bridge materials have their limits. They can and will break if put under enough force. So, habits like nail biting, teeth grinding, and tongue thrusting aren’t good for them. The practices would eventually cause a bridge to fall apart. You’d then need to get a new one or some other tooth replacement.

Lack of Professional Care

While dental bridges don’t decay, they still benefit from your dentist’s eyes. Lack of professional care can lead them to fail over time.

If you don’t already know, you can’t keep your mouth clean alone. There’ll always be hard-to-reach places your toothbrush and floss miss. Plus, you yourself might overlook a potential oral issue. Given these facts, not seeing your dentist will threaten your bridge. Problems you can’t handle on your own will make the appliance fail.

How Can You Prevent It?

Of course, it’s always possible to prevent an early bridge failure. You just need to stick to the right tips and tricks. In particular, use the ones listed below:

• Clean Your Teeth Regularly – By brushing twice daily and flossing once daily, your abutment teeth will stay healthy. From there, your bridge should last longer than it would otherwise.

• Form Better Oral Habits – By avoiding bad oral habits, you'll reduce the risk of a broken bridge. You could even get a nightguard to prevent overnight teeth grinding.

• See Your Dentist Often – A dentist can maintain your bridge with regular checkups and cleanings. That way, they’ll prevent (and reverse) potential threats to the new teeth.

Ultimately, there are things that can make a dental bridge fail. Use the practices above to ensure your own lasts a long time.