San Francisco and Marin CA
If you just got a new dental crown or will soon be receiving this restoration, you may be wondering how to get the biggest bang for your buck. After all, you’ve decided to invest in your smile by preserving your tooth, and you don’t want to let that hard earned money go to waste. It’s important to protect your investments, and your smile is no different. So today on the blog, our San Francisco cosmetic dentists at Glen Park Dental share helpful tips on how to get the most out of your new dental crown so that your results will last for the long haul.
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Practice good oral hygiene
Dental crowns are made from porcelain, which won’t decay or develop cavities. However, bacteria can still infect the gums and eventually seep under the crown and cause damage to the underlying tooth. This may occur as harmful bacteria imbed themselves under the gum line and affect the tooth below the crown’s edge or margin. Therefore, we highly recommend brushing twice a day and flossing daily if you want to keep your newly crowned tooth in good health.
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Avoid eating certain foods
Dental crowns are quite durable and can withstand normal chewing of most foods, although you could still damage the porcelain or crack the crown, resulting in the need for a new one. Avoid chewing ice, hard or sticky candy, or your fingernails, pens, or pencils. These things could fracture the porcelain, resulting in the need for a new one. Most foods are safe to chew when you have dental crowns, although you should chew nuts and popcorn with caution by taking smaller bites and chewing slowly. If you must eat hard or sticky candy, just let it melt in your mouth instead of chewing it with your teeth.
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Protect your teeth against bruxism
Bruxism is clenching and grinding your teeth, usually while sleeping. If you have bruxism, you may be completely unaware of it except that your teeth have become worn down or you experience dental pain. The force exuded while clenching your teeth could be enough to damage or cause periodontal ligaments to become inflamed, which can feel like widespread dental pain. Additionally, bruxism could damage your porcelain crowns or other restorations. Therefore, protect your teeth by wearing a night guard if you have bruxism.
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Wear a sports guard
A sports guard is an excellent way to protect your restorations as well as your natural teeth against damage or from getting knocked out entirely. You should wear a sports guard if you play any type of sport, even mountain biking! A single crash could result in knocking out or damaging a tooth. You can get a custom-made sports guard from the dentist that fits better than the boil and bite varieties found in stores.
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See the dentist regularly
Everyone should get a dental checkup at least once every six months. These appointments allow the dentist to discover any dental issues that could manifest into big problems later. Additionally, the hygienist cleans your teeth, removing plaque and tartar buildup that are responsible for gum disease and tooth decay. Remember, while crowns cannot decay, it’s important to keep the area around the crown’s edge and the gum line clean to prevent infections.
Cosmetic Dentists in Marin and San Francisco, California
Dental crowns, or any dental restoration, costs a pretty penny and that’s hard-earned money out of your pocket. It’s understandable that you’d want to protect your new investment and reduce the likelihood of having to return to the dentist for another procedure. Therefore, adhere to our guidelines to help extend the life of your dental crown and get the most out of your newly crowned tooth. If you’d like to learn more about caring for your crown or see if you could benefit from one, contact Glen Park Dental at (415) 585-1500 today.
