How To Take Care of My Dental Crown?

The dentist in Phoenix, AZ, uses dental crowns to fit over an existing tooth severely affected by tooth decay to improve its function and aesthetics. Crowns also help to maintain intact bites. During a dental crown treatment at Esp Dental, your dentist removes the decay and any existing fillings. Sometimes, the tooth is built up to match the height of the surrounding teeth.

Crowns are highly durable, and depending on the material used, they can serve for 10-15 years. However, this is if they are well maintained through proper oral hygiene. Some practices expose the artificial crown to degenerative agents, which shorten its lifespan. Here are some reasons people get dental crowns and the best practices to care for yours.

Reasons to Getting Dental Crowns

Crowns are important for several health situations in Phoenix, AZ, including:

• Restoring a worn down or broken tooth
• Protecting a weak tooth from decay effect from further fracture\
• Holding a cracked tooth together
• Covering stained or discolored teeth
• Covering teeth with large fillings that have inadequate support teeth left
• Making various cosmetic improvements

What Foods are Bad for Crowns?

Certain foods like hard candy are generally not good for your teeth, and neither are they for your artificial crowns. The pressure of biting down hard candy can loosen or damage your crowns. Sticky candy also loosens crowns if you are careless.

Also, as much as chewing gum is good for freshening your breath, the repetitive chewing motion possibly causes soreness, especially if your crown is young enough.

Tough meats need you to work your teeth a lot, and the intensive chewing and tearing pressure the teeth, causing soreness. After getting new crowns, incorporate softer meats first.

It’s also advisable to avoid chewing crunchy vegetables like carrots and broccoli if you recently got crowns. Instead of risking soreness or a loose crown, cook these vegetables to soften them before eating. Crispy fruits like apples and pears are also not suitable for new crowns as they can weaken them.

After getting new crowns, other foods to stay away from are popcorn, nuts, and seeds, at least until your dentist gives the go-ahead.

Can I Drink Coffee After Getting a Crown?

Although dental ceramics are stain-resistant, they can get discolored with time. More importantly, dark-colored beverages like coffee, fruit juice, red wine, and black tea can discolor the surrounding teeth causing unevenness and unpleasant discoloration. Therefore, talk with the dentist near you to determine which beverages you can and which you cannot take after getting a dental crown.

If you can’t make it through without coffee, try using a straw. It reduces the duration the coffee is in contact with your teeth, which mitigates dental staining.

Tips to Care for Your Dental Crowns

Good Oral Habits

Although these dental restorations last for up to fifteen years, the lifespan depends on your general oral hygiene habits. However, unlike temporary crowns, a permanent crown requires less maintenance. Still, you must ensure regular brushing and flossing. Also, rinse the crown area using an anti-bacterial mouthwash.

Get a Night Guard

Nightguards work like retainers, ensuring that the upper and lower teeth do not meet. They are beneficial for people with a tooth grinding habit during sleep. The grinding motion wears down your crown and the surrounding teeth and can cause the crown to drop off. Thus, night guards are very helpful.

Eradicate Bad Habits

Bad habits like nail-biting, chewing on plastics, and tooth grinding can dislodge the crown. Some people also like to chew ice, which is lethal for crowns. You should also avoid overly sugary foods ad hard foods that can affect your tooth and gums, so the crown falls off.

Regular Dental Visits

It’s important to ensure you see your dentist every six months for checkups and dental cleanings. This ensures the gums holding the tooth crown remain healthy and support the tooth. Regular dental visits also help the dentist determine if the crown is still well seated and properly fitting to last more years.