Dental crowns are sturdy dental restorations that are designed to look and function just like your natural teeth. A dental crown is typically made of ceramic and is placed over an existing damaged tooth to protect it and restore it. However, dental crowns are also attached to dental implants and dental bridges to create realistic replications of natural teeth.
With the right care, dental crowns can last for many years. Here’s how to preserve the health of your dental crown for a beautiful, secure smile you can enjoy for a long time to come!
Brush and Floss
Although dental crowns can’t get cavities, it’s still important to brush and floss these dental restorations just like your natural teeth. Daily brushing and flossing will not only protect the teeth surrounding the dental crown, but also preventing plaque and bacteria from building up underneath or around the dental crown, which could cause an infection such as gum disease [1]. Not to mention that brushing and flossing can help prevent your dental crown from staining!
Go Easy on Hard or Sticky Foods
Dental crowns are very sturdy and will be secure enough that you can enjoy all your favorite foods even with this dental restoration. However, as with your natural teeth, certain foods have the potential to damage your dental crown more than others. These include very hard or sticky foods, such as candies, nuts, or even crunchy bread and popcorn. Although you can still enjoy all these foods, it may be best to appreciate them in moderation.
Treat Bruxism (If You Have It)
Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding, can severely damage your teeth and gums. Teeth grinding can also impact any dental restorations you have, including fillings, bridges, and dental crowns. In fact, sleep bruxism, a condition where a person grinds their teeth at night and may not be aware of it, has been shown to shorten the life of dental crowns [2]. If you have bruxism, it’s vital that you get treatment to protect both your natural teeth and dental crowns.
Wear a Mouthguard
While you may need a mouthguard to help alleviate the effects of teeth grinding, you should also wear a mouthguard during contact sports to protect your dental crown. Custom mouthguards designed by your dentist can protect your natural teeth and prevent the need for future restorative dentistry, but they can also protect existing dental crowns, fillings, and other restorations [3].
Visit Your Dentist
Seeing your dentist for regular checkups can help you keep your crown secure and healthy for many years. Your dentist will evaluate the health of your crown during your dental exam, and can make adjustments or clean the crown as needed to prevent any issues.
Take Care of Your Dental Crown
Your smile is an investment, and taking care of dental crowns is no different than taking care of your natural teeth. Have questions about how to best take care of your dental crown? Ask your dentist during your next checkup!
Sources:
1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17455435/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5755645/
3. https://www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/mouthguards
