Care Tips for Your Dental Crown

Getting a dental crown is a great way to protect a damaged tooth and keep your smile healthy. Formed by placing a cap over your tooth to keep it strong, your dental crown can make your smile more even and protect your cracked or broken tooth from needing further repair. You can enjoy a better quality of oral health, and caring for your dental crown can help it last for many years. Here are care tips you can follow for your dental crown in addition to your regular dental checkups.

Flossing

Flossing is something you should be doing on a regular basis already and something you need to continue when you get your dental crown. Once the crown has been properly fused over your tooth, you can treat it just like a regular tooth, flossing and brushing it regularly. The best way to floss is to wrap floss around the index fingers of each hand, forming a taut line. Run the floss in between each tooth, moving it back and forth and down into the gum line to remove buildup at the base of your teeth. If your gums bleed or you notice a foul odor as you floss, then you may have gum issues you want to address with your dentist.

Eating

Be careful when eating hard foods for the first few days after receiving your dental crown. Your tooth's nerves may still be sensitive and your gums may be irritated from the procedure. Take care when eating nuts, hard candies, and popcorn, and avoid eating them entirely if you notice tooth pain while consuming hard foods. The discomfort should fade in a few days and allow you to eat as normal. If the pain persists, consult with your dentist to make sure your dental crown still fits appropriately.

Brushing

You will want to invest in an electric, round-head toothbrush to care for your teeth after getting a dental crown to prevent further damage to your treated tooth and the rest of your mouth. The vibrating pulses of an electric toothbrush can yield greater results over a manual brush and can help prevent tooth decay now and in the future. Even with regular brushing and flossing of your dental crown and the rest of your teeth, it's important that you see your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings. This way, you can prevent yourself from having to get dental crowns in the future and can preserve the health of your smile.

Talk to a company such as Sunnyside Dentistry for Children-David E Doyle, DDS for more information.