One of our most popular treatments as a cosmetic dentist in Southampton is dental crowns. These are tooth shaped caps which fit over the teeth covering the entire tooth structure that can be seen above the gum line. They’re commonly used to restore the size, shape, and appearance of a tooth and are used in many different circumstances including strengthening a weakened tooth, restoring a damaged tooth, covering a dental implant, supporting a dental bridge, and even for making cosmetic alterations.
However, like most dental applications, there are right and wrong ways to care for a dental crown to ensure that its lasts for as long as possible, which can be anywhere from 5 to 15 years. A lot of this care has to do with watching the foods that you eat.
Foods to avoid
As a rule of thumb if you have a dental crown then your cosmetic dentist in Southampton will tell you that it’s best to avoid chewy or sticky foods which can often adhere to the crown and pull at it, which in turn can impact on the life of the crown. These sorts of food include
- Toffees
- Chewing gum
- Sweet such as Haribo gums
- Nougat
- Raisins
As well as foods which are sticky and chewy, it’s also important to avoid foods which are hard. This is because these foods could break, crack, or damage your crown because of their hardness. These include foods such as
- Raw vegetables such as carrots and celery
- Popcorn
- Certain sweets such as rock and boiled sweets
- Ice (if you crunch it)
Caring for your crown
As well as watching what you eat, there are other ways that you can care properly for your crown. These include:
- Chewing food on the other side of your mouth to where the crown is located. This is particularly important in the days following the placement of the crown while the cement is hardening and the crown is settling. Also your mouth may be feeling a little sensitive in this area after having the crown attached.
- Take care when flossing your teeth and instead of lifting the floss out of the gaps between each tooth gently slide it out. Lifting has the potential to damage the crown.
- Maintain oral hygiene. Just because you have a crown it doesn’t mean you can ignore brushing or flossing. Your dentist in Southampton is certain to recommend that you brush twice and floss at least once a day to maintain good oral health. It’s vital to brush and floss around the crown area itself particularly where the tooth meets the gum, as this area is still susceptible to gum disease even though the tooth is capped with a crown.
Finally, make sure you visit your dentist at least twice a year to check your teeth and crown, and for a professional clean. If you feel you may need a dental crown then come at speak to Dr. Thomas Darling at Smilemakers to discuss your best dental options. Call today on 02380 442626 to make an appointment or book online at www.smilemakers.co.uk.
