Having a crown fitted into your mouth is an investment in a stunning smile. However, just like with any investment, you need to take care of it. Otherwise, your return on investment will be poor when the crown becomes damaged and requires premature replacement. With due care, crowns last between 5 to 15 years, so be sure to follow these dos and don'ts of crown care to ensure that after your new crown is fitted, it lasts for a decade or more.
Do Remember Daily Dental Cleaning
A crown is an artificial tooth placed inside your mouth, but that does not mean that you can overlook brushing or flossing it. Pay particular attention to the base of the crown where it meets your gum because, beneath the crown, part of a tooth remains to anchor the crown in place. Bacteria and plaque grow all over the crown, just like on a normal tooth, but if these oral gremlins manage to get under the crown and onto the tooth beneath, then the crown needs to be removed when that area becomes infected. A removed crown cannot be reattached and a new crown needs to be made.
Don't Eat Sticky Food
If you have a love for toffee, chewy lollies or other sticky food, then you need to say goodbye to that love once the crown is fitted into your mouth. When sticky foods attach themself to your crown, there is potential for the crown to be loosened or pulled away from its anchor. Alternatively, even if the crown is not completely pulled out of your mouth, there is potential for a small gap to be created along the gum line, and that is all the opening bacteria needs to attack your old tooth. To get the longest life out of your crown, it is time to change your eating habits.
Do Be Mindful Of Grinding Teeth
Clenching or grinding your teeth when stressed or asleep damages natural teeth, and that damage happens to crowns too. The crown is an artificial tooth, but it is not stronger than a natural one, so if you are aware that you grind your teeth, then talk to your dentist about being fitted for a mouthguard. A mouthguard protects the crown from grinding damage while you are sleeping.
By following these tips your new crown will last for years, but if you have any further questions, do not be afraid to talk to your dentist about how to prolong the life of your dental crown.
Our oral surgery and general dental website offers important information on how to prevent dry socket following a tooth extraction. After getting your tooth pulled, a protective blood clot develops over the extraction site. Many of our blog posts explain how this protective clot helps promote healing after an extraction.
You'll learn that if the clot is accidentally dislodged, dry socket may occur, which can raise your risk for infection and heavy bleeding. We'll provide you with important tips on how to prevent this by avoiding smoking and drinking through a straw. You'll also learn that swishing water around your mouth should be avoided for a couple of days following your extraction because doing so creates a suction that may dislodge your clot, leading to dry socket.