There are many good reasons to get a crown (a dental crown, that is) – for structural or aesthetic restoration…
Crowns are made to last, and they can serve you for many years before you have to have them replaced. However, the only way to keep your crown around for this long is if it’s properly maintained. So, what is the right way to care for a dental crown?
1. Avoid Sticky Foods
Your dentist used special glue to keep your crown in place for a long time, but it’s a good idea to play it safe to avoid chewing sticky foods like toffee and, yes, the beloved candy apple.
2. Avoid Hard Foods
As strong as crowns are, they have their limits. Eating foods that are very hard can cause them to chip, crack or break. Hard sweets and nuts are just a few of the foods that you should try to avoid. Some seemingly soft foods may contain ingredients that are harder inside.
Pay attention to what you’re eating. There are few things worse for your crown and teeth in general than biting down on something harder than anticipated.
3. Avoid Very Hot or Very Cold Foods
Food and drink consumed at “extreme” temperatures can trigger sensitivity in that tooth supporting your crown. Although the crown may not be damaged by this, the nerve under the real tooth under the crown (that’s a lot of under’s) could be sensitized leading to pain.
4. Regular Brushing and Flossing
One of the main advantages of dental crowns is that caring for them is much like caring for your regular teeth. The most important thing you can do is brush and floss your on a regular basis, preferably twice a day. So, although crowns are made from artificial materials, they can still be affected by poor dental hygiene.
It’s important to note that the base of a crown is a living tooth and that tooth may further be affected by cavities, and gum disease, often the result of poor oral hygiene. If the tooth covered by the crown or the bone holding the tooth in place is weakened, you’ll have more than a crown to worry about.
5. Visit Us Dentist Regularly
These pointers will help you care for a dental crown so that it lasts as long as possible. One last thing to remember is to get regular checkups. Having your teeth examined by a dentist on a regular basis is very important, and this doesn’t change when you get crowns.
In fact, the need to see the dentist may be more significant in the period after getting a crown. The dentist will need to ensure that there are no complications as a result of the procedure as well as give you additional pointers on caring for your dental crown. Make an appointment today!
Crowns | American Dental Association