Cosmetic dentistry provides a range of dental treatments designed to improve the aesthetics of patients' teeth but also gives patients a much-needed confidence boost. If you have a chipped or broken tooth you need fixed, you are a potential candidate for dental crowns treatment.
Dental crowns are fixed prosthetics typically fitted over a patient's remaining healthy tooth to give the tooth a fuller appearance. Like other dental prosthetics, they require proper care to stay in good shape for a long time.
If you would like to learn about how to care for dental crowns, so you can take good care of yours when you get them fitted, you have come to the right place.
Here is a look at a few important care tips for dental crowns you should know about.
Don't bite in hard foods
As already stated, crowns are essentially cosmetic coverings for chipped or broken natural teeth. While these prosthetics are also meant to be practical, they are not designed to constantly withstand forceful biting pressures.
For this reason, it is important to avoid eating hard foods, such as caramel, macadamia nuts, and hard candies, which can break or damage your crown. If you want, you can discuss with your dentist about what to eat and what to remove from your diet.
Stop grinding your teeth
If your crowns are to last, you will have to avoid grinding your teeth. Unfortunately, teeth grinding is something people do unconsciously. So, you might need professional help avoiding it. If you, for example, tend to grind your teeth and clench your jaws while sleeping, your dentist can provide you with a mouth guard to wear when you go to sleep.
Don't stop brushing and flossing
Just like natural teeth, dental crowns also need to be kept clean. So, if you are going to live with dental crowns, you should be ready to continue brushing and flossing regularly. It is also a good idea to rinse your mouth with antibacterial mouthwash at least once per day. This will help kill bacteria that may wreak havoc in your mouth.
In addition to your normal oral hygiene practices, embrace any new oral hygiene habits your dentist may recommend post-procedure.
Don't skimp on regular checkups
Go for regular checkups so your general dentist can examine your mouth, teeth and crowns and let you know if there is any issue that needs to be addressed.
For more information on treatment with dental crowns, feel free to talk to a qualified cosmetic dentist near you.