Have you recently had some dental work done to repair a few worn down, or even damaged teeth? Did this include getting a few new dental crowns? If so, then you may be wondering about the best way to take care of these new additions to ensure they last for years to come and provide the right amount of support for the rest of your teeth.
Whether you have had only one tooth repaired or received several dental crowns, it’s essential to properly take care of them. This post shares a few top tips on how to best take care of your new dental crowns.
Keep Your Smile Beautiful the Easy Way
There are many benefits to having some dental work done. For many people, it means they’re able to smile more confidentially while for others, it means being able to chew and eat more comfortably again. If you want your dental work to continue adding value to your life, you will need to take special care of your dental crowns. Here’s how to do that.
1. Create and Maintain Good Oral Hygiene Habits
No matter what your oral hygiene habits were before you had your dental crowns put in, your new dental procedures provide an opportunity to improve on these. Your dental crowns will only last as long as you want them to if you take good care of them.
Here are the basic hygiene guidelines to follow for this:
- Brush twice daily using a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste to avoid scratching the crown.
- Floss at least once a day to keep food particles from getting stuck between your original teeth and the new crown.
- If you use a mouthwash, be sure to use a mild option.
2. Avoid Chewing Hard Foods
Dental crowns can easily get damaged if you use them to chew hard food such as hard candy and nuts. Chewing hard food types is the number one reason why new crowns crack or break. Keep these tips in mind to prevent this:
- Switch your hard candies to healthier, softer, dried fruit snacks that are easier on your teeth.
- Rather suck candies than bite down on them.
- Avoid biting down on ice cubes.
3. Consider using a Mouthguard at Night
If you’re prone to biting down on your teeth at night, it’s a good idea to speak to your dentist about a mouthguard. This will go a long way toward keeping your crown from suffering any additional damage at night.
Keep in mind that mouthguards are designed to fit your mouth, so you will need to schedule an appointment to have these moulded. Do this as soon as possible to avoid any damage in the early days of the crown.
4. Avoid Eating Sticky Food
Just because you have a few new dental crowns, doesn’t mean that you can now eat all the things you struggled to eat before. This is especially true when it comes to sticky foods such as caramels and toffee.
Sticky foods tend to get stuck in between your teeth and the crown. It’s also difficult to remove these with regular flossing and brushing. In more severe cases, sticky foods can cause the dental crowns to loosen or fall out altogether.
5. Ditch the Tobacco
Tobacco is one of the top reasons for dental crown staining. Whether you smoke, or chew the occasional tobacco, you are putting your crowns at risk of long-term damage. Over time, your teeth will become discoloured. Dentists always recommend quitting before your new dental procedures to preserve the aesthetics of your newly added dental crowns.
6. Keep Your Dental Crown Safe
You will also need to keep your new dental crown safe from potential trauma. In addition to watching what you eat, you should also be cautious when playing contact sports. Be sure to wear the necessary protective gear, such as helmets and mouthguards, which may help to reduce the risk of damage to all your teeth, new and old.
7. Stick to a Regular Dentist Schedule
You may think that receiving your new teeth means that your visits to the dentist are over. However, it’s essential to visit your dentist for checkups and necessary cleanings even after the dental crown has been fitted.
By doing this, your dentist will be able to evaluate the success of the procedure and also check for any other repairs that need to be done. Your dentist will also be able to check that the crowns aren’t loose and assess whether or not you need a mouthguard. Be sure to mention any issues you may be having with the dental crowns so that these can be addressed before any permanent damage is done.
Final Thoughts
Taking care of your new dental crowns will require dedication and patience from your side. By following our simple tips you’ll easily be able to take care of your new crowns and the surrounding teeth. When you see your beautiful smile in the mirror, you’ll be glad you made the effort!