Have you had a successful dental crown installation with your dentist? Then it’s a great day to celebrate because your teeth are now stronger! Crowns create an extra layer over the natural structure of your teeth, adding support and stability. A quality crown allows you to eat your favorite foods without worry. It also gives you more confidence to show off that beautiful smile.
They may provide protective restoration for your teeth, but crowns are not unbreakable. They can still be damaged due to bad dental practices or a dental emergency. Don’t worry. We offer some guidelines on how to take care of your new crowns and ensure they last.
If You Want to Bleach Your Teeth, Think Carefully before Making a Dental Crown Appointment
If you’re planning to bleach your teeth to have a brighter smile, you might want to talk to your dentist about bleaching products before you discuss designing your crown. You can’t bleach crowns into a whiter color.
If you bleach your teeth after putting in your new crown, it will remain the same hue as the one selected during the fabrication process. This will make the crown stand out and look discolored. The only way to fix this problem is to replace your crown with a new one.
Floss Every Day
Crowns have a thin margin along the edges, so they tend to collect plaque. Flossing is an effective technique to remove the plaque sticking to your teeth. Granted that it is set with the proper bonding agent, give your crown a few days to cure after the placement. Afterward, it’s advisable to floss every day.
Your dentist might have already told you how to floss. But to properly floss your crown, hug the side of it and rub the floss string up and down, slightly reaching below the gum tissues. Repeat the action several times on both sides of your tooth. Floss around your crown regularly to prevent gingivitis, tartar buildup, and gum disease.
Brush Your Teeth Gently
When brushing your teeth, use a soft toothbrush and stick with non-abrasive products like an ADA-approved gentle toothpaste with fluoride. Grittier products like baking soda can scratch the surface of your new crown and can dull the cap over time. The said scratches can also cause the crown to accumulate extra stain buildup.
While brushing your teeth, pay close attention to your gum lines and angle the brush gently toward your gum tissues, cleaning along the edge of your crown.
Get a Nightguard
If you clench and grind your teeth while sleeping (a condition known as bruxism), it’s smart to invest in a nightguard. Also called chronic bruxism, regular teeth-grinding can put you at risk for fractured dental work. When you sleep in a protective mouth guard or bite splint, there is a small buffer between your upper and lower teeth, forbidding them to come into full contact with one another.
Conclusion
One of the best ways you can monitor and maintain your crown is by taking routine X-rays. Digital X-rays can give you a view of what’s going on between teeth, under your gum lines, and around the edges of your crown. This routine dental checkup will give you assurance and, at the same time, help your dentist assess if your crown is having problems.
Be more confident with your smile today. We at Dr. Thomas E. Cooke Family Dentistry specialize in providing an extensive range of common dental services and are known for our emergency dental in Raleigh, NC. Visit us any time to improve your oral health through our superior dental care.
