Typically made of porcelain, metal, or resin, dental crowns are designed to protect and restore the shape and appearance of damaged teeth. The best dentist in Reston VA can also use these to hold dental bridges in place or to cover dental implants.
On average, a dental crown can last for about a decade. This lifespan, however, depends on several other factors — including how well it is maintained and taken care of. To help you protect the crown that covers your tooth, we’ve compiled seven practical tips you can follow in our latest article.
Brush and floss regularly. If you ask the best dentist in Reston VA, being able to protect your dental crown still boils down to brushing and flossing regularly. Though crowns are only artificial replacements, you shouldn’t be complacent. In fact, you have to take extra care when brushing around that area in your mouth. Use an appropriate brush and floss to remove plaques, food particles, and germs.
Check the fit of your crown. For crowns to be effective and comfortable to have, they have to have a proper fit. If yours is shorter and longer than nearby teeth, then you should have it refitted. Poorly-fitting crowns don’t only cause pain; they can also cause your bite to change. They can also easily come loose and be damaged when not addressed.
Avoid consuming hard and sticky foods. Upon getting fitted with dental crowns, you now have to be more cautious with what you consume. You have to especially avoid eating sticky and hard foods such as ice, candies, and chewing gums. These can break or crack your crown — and the only way to address such damage is to replace it immediately.
Keep it from getting stained. A stained crown is something that’s costly to restore. This why the best dentist in Reston VA also advises dental patients to cut down on drinking beverages that could strain the crown. These include coffee, wine, and black tea. Smoking should also be prohibited (or at least managed) because it can also stain crowns and teeth.
Don’t use your teeth to open caps or packages. Opening bottle caps and packages using the teeth is a common bad habit among many people. If you have crowns in your mouth, you have to kick such a habit out of your system to protect their lifespan. You also have to avoid biting your nails or chewing on pencils.
Invest in a mouthguard. If you often grind or clench your teeth (especially at night), it can negatively impact your dental crown. To prevent your crown from experiencing that extra pressure coming from grinding or clenching teeth, it’s only practical to invest in a quality mouthguard.
Visit your dentist regularly. Don’t hesitate to ask your dentist for any queries on how you can protect and care for your dental crown. Also, make sure that you undergo routine dental exams to see if there’s anything wrong with your crown (or your other teeth). When maintaining good oral hygiene, learn from experience and bear in mind that prevention is always better than cure.
If you are looking for the best dentist in Reston VA to take care of your family’s oral health, check out Reston Dental Care. Visit our website to learn more about our services.