Have you had your smile restored through the placement of a dental crown? Because crowns are hand crafted to perfectly match the surrounding teeth, odds are you’re the only one who will know you’ve had dental work done! And not only do they look beautifully natural, dental crowns also are extremely durable. However, in order to enjoy them for as long as fifteen years or more, there are a few things to keep in mind to give them the best care possible. Read on for tips to help you give your dental crown the royal treatment.
- How to Brush and Floss Your Dental Crown
- The Top Foods that Will Damage Your Crown
How to Brush and Floss Your Dental Crown
Even though your natural tooth now has a cap, or dental crown, it’s still important to brush and floss it just as you would a natural tooth. Dental crowns can be made from a number of different materials, including gold alloys, porcelain, ceramic, acrylic or composite resin or combinations. And while these materials are resistant to the acid and bacteria present in the mouth, it is possible for bacteria to enter the natural tooth where the crown meets the gum line. For this reason, it’s especially important to keep your dental crown brushed and flossed properly.
To brush your dental crown, use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently but firmly brush the exterior of the crown. Plaque can still cling to a dental crown as it would a natural tooth. Pay special attention to the base of the crown. Keeping the gum line as clean as possible will help protect the tooth under the crown from decay.
It’s also important to floss the dental crown to remove any plaque that your toothbrush can’t reach, like from between the teeth and at the gum line. If your floss gets stuck while flossing, try pulling it out from the side instead of forcing it up past your crown. Normally, flossing shouldn’t dislodge your crown but it is possible. So if floss gets stuck, use a gentle touch to remove it from between the teeth.
The Top Foods that Will Damage Your Crown
Your dental crown is tough but not indestructible! There are some foods that could potentially damage your crown. Very sticky foods like caramel, taffy, and sticky candies can adhere to the surface of the crown and dislodge it as you chew. Since they’re not all that great for your teeth in general given their high sugar content and tendency to stick around in the mouth for a while, you might want to consider nixing them all together.
The other category of foods to be careful with are very hard or crunchy foods. Nuts, popcorn kernels, and ice can break your crown. Even smaller cracks in the surface of the crown are problematic, as they introduce bacteria down into your natural tooth underneath. Ditch the ice chomping–no matter how close that fingernail-biting Badger game is!–and enjoy nuts and popcorn gently and in moderation.
Dental Crowns in Madison, Wisconsin
Do you have a tooth that is breaking down? Allow us to build it back up with a dental crown. Call us today to get started on healing your smile. Affiliated Dentists offers general, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry in Madison, Wisconsin.
Give Your Dental Crown the Royal Treatment brought to you by Dr. Mark Gustavson
