How to Care for a New Crown

If you’ve recently had a root canal treatment or a bad tooth replaced, you might think that you don’t need to care for your crown like you would care for a real tooth. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth.

Dental crowns require just as much care & attention as any of your other teeth. There are even a few reasons why you may want to be extra thorough with your hygiene if you have a crown. So if you’d like to avoid a dental disaster & ensure the longevity of a capped tooth, there are a few basic tips you should follow.

Watch What You Eat

An ideal diet for someone with a crown has less to do with calories & more to do with texture. Avoid hard & sticky foods like candy & chewing gum as these can damage the surface of the crown or even cause it to become loose. You wouldn’t want to make an emergency trip to the dentist because of a sweet tooth!

Stop Grinding Your Teeth

Teeth grinding is a problem for many people, but most who have it don’t think much of it. While grinding is bad for your natural teeth, the consequences of doing it when you have a crown can be catastrophic. With enough force & wiggling, a dental crown can fall out.

With enough willpower, you can get yourself to stop grinding during the day, but the tricky part comes at night. If you know (or your dentist has told you) that you have problems with grinding your teeth in your sleep, you may want to consider getting a nightguard. This is a simple appliance that is fitted to your bite & stops your teeth from grinding against each other. It’s not free, but it’s less expensive & less of a hassle than getting your crown replaced.

Keep Your Teeth Clean

You’re probably tired of hearing this by now, but the best way you can take care of your dental health is by brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing once a day & visiting your dentist twice a year. This is particularly important if you have a crown, because oral bacteria can end up underneath your crown & eat away at the tooth root that is holding it up.

A dental crown isn’t cheap, so don’t treat it like it’s cheap. Give it the same respect you give the rest of your body & it will serve you well for years to come.