November 2022

If you have missing, weak, or discolored teeth, dental crowns are the perfect choice for you! Dental crowns are extremely versatile and help in correcting any flaws, they also provide additional strength to your teeth and most importantly restore your smile. With proper care, your dental crown can last up to years. Following are a few steps to take to prevent damage.

Taking Care Of Dental Crown

1. Use A Night Guard

If you suffer from bruxism or grind or clench your teeth and are aware of this, it’s important to get the best quality night guards. Nightguard acts like a barrier between your top and bottom teeth, which prevents your enamel and crown from being worn down, chipped, or cracked. It will also prevent the crown from popping off after being exposed to grinding over time.

With good quality nightguard, you are protecting not only your crown but also your natural teeth and preventing any issues that may occur in the future.

2. Learn How To Floss With A Crown

Brushing and flossing play an important role in achieving optimal oral health. You should brush and floss your teeth and crown daily to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. At the same time, you should floss once daily, but you may be wondering how to floss with a dental crown. The process is still the same, you need to slide the floss between the teeth. Make sure to use a C-shaped movement and carefully slide the floss in a downward direction. After flossing under the gums, be sure to remove the floss gently. This will prevent the floss from getting stuck along the crown’s margin or snapping and pulling that may dislodge the crown.

3. Regularly Visit Your Dentist

Experts recommend visiting the dentist once every six months for regular dental check-ups and cleanings. Maintaining regular dental check-ups is even more important if you have a dental crown. The dentist can inspect the crown and identify any issues beforehand to avoid any dental issues.

If you experience sensitivity, and pain, or have a leaking crown, it is a sign that the crown is placed too high or the tooth underneath is decayed further. You need to visit the dentist immediately in such situations as ignoring or delaying the treatment will expose your teeth to infections. It will also reduce the chances of repairing the crown.

What To Avoid While Wearing Crowns?

1. Avoid Biting Nails & Other Bad Habits

Do you bite your nails? Or chew on pen caps, ice, or use your teeth to open packages? You need to stop. These habits can damage your crowns and break or chip your natural teeth. Also, these objects can get lodged between your gums and even damage them. These habits can put too much pressure on your crown and put it at great risk of chips, cracks, or breaking. It can also lead to a loose crown. Also, avoid smoking and consuming tobacco products to ensure your crown lasts for long. These products can cause gum recession and cause uneven margins, therefore causing loose and stained crowns.

2. Avoid Extreme Food Temperatures

After receiving your crown, you may experience tooth sensitivity, which is one of the common side effects after dental crown placement. You may feel hypersensitivity to hot and cold foods and drinks, and also sometimes, the biting sensations may be undesirable. However, you can take certain measures to reduce sensitivity.

• Avoid excessively hot and cold drinks until the sensitivity subsides.
• Avoid spicy foods for a few days.
• Consider drinking through a straw.

If the crown is not new and you face sensitivity issues, make sure you visit the dentist, as it can be a sign of an infection. The dentist will identify the source of discomfort and provide the appropriate treatment.

3. Avoid Abrasive Toothpaste And Brushes

Teeth whitening toothpaste is a popular option, and there are different varieties to choose from. However, these kinds of toothpaste contain abrasives from chalk, silica, charcoal, or other elements. Although these kinds of toothpaste ensure some whitening, it is bad for your crown as your teeth’s natural enamel can sustain products much better than a crown.

4. Avoid Hard Or Sticky Foods

Crowns are durable and strong, just like your natural teeth; however, excess pressure can damage your crown. Therefore, you should avoid certain foods that can damage your teeth and crown.

• Sticky or chewy foods can cause sticky parts to get stuck between your crown and gum. It can also weaken or loosen your crown. Therefore, it’s best to avoid these foods.
• Foods like nuts, gum, candy, ice, etc., can pull or push your crown or loosen then putting, it at risk of popping out.
• Make sure you avoid foods like steak, dried fruits, crunchy vegetables, and popcorn, as they can be difficult to chew and eat without any damage.

Conclusion

If you have dental crowns and want to ensure they last for long, visit the best dentist in Tullahoma, TN, to get thorough dental examinations and recommendations. This will ensure you have a smile that lasts for long.