Dental crowns are a great way to restore damaged teeth, improve your smile or provide protection and rehabilitation after a root canal. No matter why you have your crown, you’ll want to look after it so it is a long-lasting tooth for you to use and enjoy!
At Barron Family Dental, we use high-grade porcelain material for our restorative dental crowns. While crowns are available that have metal content or are created using other materials, we have found that porcelain offers strength, looks most natural, and are long-lasting for the best results.
Every dental crown requires a little more care, including being more cautious about what you eat. As you prepare to have a crown placed or if you’ve recently had a dental crown placed to improve your smile, be sure to avoid certain foods to keep your crown in great shape and looking its best!
Hard Foods: While nuts are high in protein, they can be problematic after having a dental crown. This hard snack can cause unnecessary pressure on a crown and lodge into tight spaces. Also, be sure to cook vegetables thoroughly so they are softer, easier to chew, and avoid any unnecessary damage to a new crown.
Sticky Foods: As you might suspect, chewing gums, gummy candy, jelly beans, taffy, and caramel or toffee are best avoided with dental crowns. These chewy snacks act like a glue to your dental crown (and your natural teeth too) and can create a pulling effect that could loosen or damage a crown, filling, or any temporary dental fixture.
Sugary Foods: It’s best to avoid sugary foods and candy no matter what kind of dental work you have had done! Foods and snacks that are high in sugar content have a natural tendency to deposit sugars deep in the crevice of teeth. Because dental crowns are made to be realistic, these porcelain crowns also have natural-like crevices. Skip the sugary snack that can allow sugars to settle into the teeth and serve as a breeding ground for bacteria and plaque build-up.
Ice: If you have a habit of crunching down on ice, like hard foods, it’s time to kick this habit! Chewing ice can crack or chip even the most robust and strong teeth plus unintentionally dislodge a dental crown. Stopping an ice-chewing habit is a good practice for the health of everyone’s teeth!
Your new dental crown is designed to be strong, life-like, and long-lasting. Give it every chance of success and practice these few tips to care for your crown and get the most out of your new smile!
Quick Tips on How to Care for Your Dental Crowns
- Swap sides when you chew and practice chewing on the other side of your mouth. It may feel odd at first if your new crown is on the dominant side of your mouth, but it’s a great way to avoid further stress and protect your new investment. Chewing on the other side also avoids any sensitive areas that may exist from having the crown placed.
- Be careful when you floss and practice pulling the floss through the space between your teeth. By pulling the floss through, instead of lifting it, you avoid risking damage to your new crown.
- As always, continue your routine of brushing your teeth twice each day and flossing regularly. Also, plan on any necessary dental follow-up appointments after your crown and visit your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings.
Are you in need of a dental checkup or considering having a dental crown placed? Call us at (303) 284-6463 or contact us! We are experts in beautiful, restorative dental crowns in our unique, family dental practice in Thornton, CO.
