Dental plates restore damaged teeth, providing strength, structure, and protection. Along with getting dental treatment, regular oral hygiene helps crowns last for many years. Here are tips to maintain the integrity of your dental work:
Brushing and Flossing
Brushing removes sticky plaque that builds up around crowned teeth, while flossing cleans the spaces between teeth and crowned edges. Use a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to clean around the gumline and down to the base of the crown. Slide the floss down the sides of each tooth and beneath the crown margins to disrupt plaque. An oral irrigator can help flush out debris.
Avoiding Hard and Sticky Foods
While crowns restore tooth durability, excess chewing force may dislodge or fracture them. Avoid biting down on hard candies, ice, and popcorn kernels. Sticky foods like caramel and fruit snacks might cause problems with adhesives, put stress on the crown margins, and eventually pull them loose. Cut up raw vegetables so you use your molar teeth for crunching, reducing stress on the front ones. Also limit consumption of chewy and hard foods to reduce stress on the tooth restorations. Chewing on non-food items like ice cubes, fingernails, pens, or other objects can damage your dental work. Use scissors or bottle openers, not teeth, to open things like containers or remove price tags from clothing.
Using Night Guards
For unconscious teeth grinding, conditions like bruxism could be addressed with a custom night guard to stop damage. Chronic teeth grinding or clenching exerts stress and pressure that can fracture crowns or cause them to loosen. Custom night guards fit over your upper or lower teeth to protect them during nighttime grinding by buffering them from harmful direct contact with opposing teeth. Dental practitioners should help determine if night guards may benefit specific patients.
Guarding Against Cavities
While a crown encases your tooth, decay can take hold at the margins or spread from adjacent teeth. Limiting sweets, sugary snacks, and acidic drinks helps reduce cavity-causing bacteria. Healthy foods bolster tooth strength from the inside, supporting your crown. Drinking plenty of water helps wash away plaque buildup and reduce the risk of decay spreading under your restorations.
Seeing Your Dentist
Routine dental visits allow your dentist to evaluate fitted crowns and place new ones if needed. Some crown types have shorter lifespans and may need replacement. Dentists also inspect crowned teeth for signs of loosening, chips, decay, or other issues so they can then perform repairs before problems worsen. Updated X-rays show any damage to the underlying tooth not visible during a visual inspection. Exams monitor restorative health so issues can be resolved before they permanently affect the crown.
Regularly visit the dental office for exams and cleanings tailored to your crown material. Your hygienist should take time to clean crowned teeth and assess any trouble spots. Removing built-up tartar enhances crown longevity. Hygienists also polish your crowns to keep them looking new.
Get Dental Crowns Today
New crowns restore both the form and function of your tooth so you can smile and bite normally. With diligent oral hygiene and healthy lifestyle habits, you have a better chance of successfully getting the most out of your dental crowns. Visit your dentist for advanced tooth restorative care today.
