Recently Get A Dental Crown? Know These Tips About Eating And Hygiene
Posted on: 24 March 2016
A dental crown may help give one of your teeth the added strength it needs to be able to chew with it again, but that doesn't mean you can go back to those normal behaviors. Here is a list of 4 things to remember during those first couple days after getting your new dental crown
Avoid Chewing With The Crown
Chewing with your other teeth will feel more comfortable for those first few days as you get used to the feeling of a dental crown. It will also help prevent causing accidental damage to the crown as well. There may be some additional time needed for bonding material to completely set, so putting less pressure on the tooth will help it.
Ask your dentist about when you should start chewing with the tooth that has the crown. Chewing along the same side for a prolonged period of time is not very healthy for the joints in your jaw.
Avoid Crunchy and Chewy Foods
The crown on your tooth was constructed with very durable material, like a resin compound or porcelain. Unfortunately, you can still damage the crown if you are not careful when it comes to the foods that you eat. You should avoid eating foods that are very crunchy, sticky, or chewy right after you get a crown installed. For example, gum, caramel, ice and tortilla chips should be avoided.
Your dentist will let you know when you are able to resume your normal diet, or if you should avoid eating some specific foods due to your crown.
Expect Sensitivity
It is completely normal to experience sensitivity in your affected tooth once a crown is installed on it. This is true when consuming beverages or foods that are very cold or hot. Thankfully, the sensitivity will subside after several days. When it does not seem like the sensitivity is going away, visit your dentist to have the tooth looked at.
Practice Proper Oral Hygiene
Your tooth may have a new porcelain or resin covering over it, but that does not mean the tooth cannot get a cavity again. In fact, the tooth will be more difficult to clean. It's possible for bacteria to get caught along the edge of the crown, and if not cleaned properly, a cavity can form on the side of the tooth. That's why you must take extra care with brushing to ensure that the edges around the crown are very clean to avoid complications.
Thankfully, your tooth should be able to function just like a natural tooth after several days. If you feel like something is wrong, talk with a dentist like Dr. Robert Petrtyl immediately.
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