Chestnut Ridge Dental has just repaired your damaged tooth with a pristine new dental crown. If crowns are a relatively new experience for you, you might be curious about their longevity and the best ways to maintain them. In this blog, we will explore the factors that influence the lifespan of dental crowns and share 5 essential tips for keeping them in excellent condition.
What is a Dental Crown?
Before we begin, it’s important to understand what a dental crown is. Essentially, dental crowns are tooth-shaped caps that are cemented onto damaged teeth to restore their shape, size, and function. At Chestnut Ridge Dental, we use crowns to install dental implants, repair damaged teeth, and follow up on root canal treatments. According to the Cleveland Clinic, dental crowns last about 5 to 15 years, but this can vary widely based on several factors.
Now that you know what a dental crown is, let’s delve into 5 factors that can influence longevity.
1. Oral Hygiene
This one should come as no surprise! Oral hygiene is paramount in all facets of dental care, especially when it comes to dental crowns. Proper hygiene is not just one step; here are specific instructions to ensure proper oral care:
- Brushing Your Teeth: Brush twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to keep those pearly whites clean!
- Flossing: Healthy gums are key to protecting your dental crowns. If you do not floss daily, you risk getting gum disease and recession.
- Use Mouthwash: Rinse with mouthwash after you brush your teeth to wash away bacteria and strengthen the teeth surrounding your dental crown.
2. Refresh Your Diet
Maintaining a healthy diet is crucial for dental crown longevity. While we all love a sugary snack occasionally, make sure your diet is not filled with them. Avoid soda, fruit snacks, sticky candies, and high-sugar sports drinks.
Acid foods and drinks are another category of food to avoid. Specific acidic items include citrus fruits, pickles, cranberries, and wine.
While it may be difficult to eliminate these items from your diet, by reducing the amount you consume, you can increase your dental crown’s longevity and prevent further complications.
3. Prevent Staining
Preventing your dental crown from staining is essential, as stained crowns are challenging for dentists to clean. To keep your crown looking its best, avoid beverages that can cause staining, such as coffee, wine, and black tea. If you cannot steer clear of these drinks, try using a straw to minimize contact with your crown. Additionally, avoid swishing these drinks around in your mouth and swallow quickly to reduce the risk of staining.
4. Reconsider Your Chewing Habits
Here’s something else you can control: chewing and biting habits. Below is a list of common chewing habits to avoid, that will keep your dental crown safe:
- Chewing on Items: Chewing on pens, pencils, and other items ultimately proves detrimental to your dental crown’s health. By doing so, you risk damaging your crown, thereby shortening its lifespan.
- Unnecessary Usage of Teeth: Do not use your teeth as a tool. Many use their teeth for everyday tasks such as ripping a package’s seal. While it may seem more convenient, this can risk damaging both your dental crown and teeth.
- Lifestyle Factors: Smoking, vaping, and chewing tobacco can damage your dental crown and teeth. Consider quitting these habits to protect your teeth.
- Sleep Grinding: Grinding your teeth while you sleep is also bad for your crown’s health. To avoid this, consider buying a dental mouthguard. These will prevent you from clenching and grinding your teeth while asleep
5. Schedule Regular Dentist Visits
You should visit the dentist twice a year on average, especially when you have a dental crown. Since you have a dental crown, your dentist may even suggest more frequent visits.
To start, a dentist can assess the health of your crown. If it is starting to chip or become stained, they can help avoid further damage. A dentist can also adjust the crown if it is too big and examine it to ensure the overall structure remains sound.
Living with a Dental Crown
To ensure the longevity and health of your dental crown, it is vital to consider these key factors. Pay close attention to all aspects of your lifestyle that could impact your crown’s condition. While it might seem challenging, optimizing the health of your dental crown can be achieved with relative ease.
For additional information, visit the Chestnut Ridge Dental website. To schedule an appointment, call (201) 391-4466.
