Tips for Taking Care of Dental Crowns in Grand Prairie, TX

Dentists use crowns to cover damaged teeth. These prostheses are designed to look just like patients’ natural teeth and with proper care, they are considered a good long-term solution for protecting weak teeth, finishing root canals and dental implants, and more. Read on to find out how to care for dental crowns in Grand Prairie TX properly to ensure that a new crown will last as long as possible.

Practice Good Dental Hygiene

For the most part, patients can treat their dental crowns just like normal teeth. They should brush them at least twice a day and floss between the crown and the natural or prosthetic teeth beside it at least once a day. Most dentists also recommend using mouthwash to ensure that even hard-to-reach parts of patients’ mouths remain as clean as possible.

Avoid Certain Foods

Patients with dental crowns can mostly follow their normal diets but there are a few types of food they may want to avoid if they want their crowns to last for as long as possible. Chewing on hard candies, nuts, ice, and some fresh veggies can cause crowns to break and eating sticky desserts or chewing gum can cause the adhesive to come loose. These problems can be fixed but patients who don’t want to deal with extra visits to the dentist can avoid them by using care when they eat these problematic foods.

Be Aware of Sensitivities

Eating very hot or cold foods can cause teeth with dental crowns in Grand Prairie TX to feel sensitive. They won’t damage the crown, but patients should be aware of this common problem. As they become accustomed to their newly restored teeth, their sensitivity may decrease.

Avoid Bad Habits

Chewing on fingernails and grinding teeth at night are both considered bad habits by most modern Americans. That’s not all they have in common, though. They can also damage dental crowns, so those who have crowns should try to change their behaviors if possible.

Keep Dental Appointments

Although proper home care can help to extend the longevity of a dental crown, it won’t replace the need for routine visits to the dentist. Know it’s been too long since that last checkup? Contact us to schedule an appointment today.