Dental crowns (also called caps) are tooth-shaped prosthetics that protect teeth from further damage or complete a dental implant. As such, they are an ideal restorative dentistry treatment to repair and protect your smile.
If you’re looking for high-quality caps to protect and enhance your smile, then contact Dr. Julie Glud at Dental Care of Lombard today. Together with her knowledgeable team, Dr. Glud can repair your teeth, prevent continued damage, and beautify your smile with long-lasting dental crowns. Contact our Lombard, IL, dental office online, or call our team at (630) 629-5700 for more.
If you have recently gotten dental caps, then you need to know how to protect them. In this post, we give you four ways to keep new dental crowns safe.
1. Keep Brushing and Flossing
Dental caps are resistant to decay and stains. But, this does not mean that they don’t need daily cleaning.
Even though caps are resistant to decay, the teeth that they cover and flank are not. Therefore, we recommend following the ADA’s (American Dental Association’s) standards for optimal oral hygiene, such as:
- Brushing after meals and snacks (or at least twice a day) with toothpaste that contains fluoride or other remineralizing ingredients
- Flossing at least once a day (interdental brushes and water flossers are best!)
- Limiting sugary and acidic foods and drinks
- Drinking plenty of water
- Rinsing with cavity-preventing mouthwashes
- Visiting a Lombard, IL, dentist for yearly dental exams and cleanings
2. Avoid Hard and Sticky Foods
Although dental crowns are uniquely strong, they can still accrue damage, especially from hard and sticky foods. Excessively hard treats (like peanut brittle, toffee, and ice) can crack or chip crowns. Similarly, extremely sticky foods (like taffy and caramel) can dislodge or loosen dental caps.
Therefore, it is best to protect dental crowns by avoiding foods that can compromise their structure and function. And, by avoiding these foods, you can lengthen the lifespan of dental caps, which is already estimated to be at least 10 years!
3. Treat Sleep Bruxism
Sleep bruxism is a condition in which patients unconsciously grind or clench their teeth while sleeping. This condition can slowly destroy teeth over time, so it is no wonder that it can destroy dental crowns, too.
Patients can prevent teeth from grinding at night with personalized night guards. These comfortable, plastic trays conform perfectly to the teeth to provide constant padding between high-contact teeth (like capped molars) at night.
4. Visit a Dentist Regularly
New dental crowns deserve the same amount of attention and care as natural teeth. So, it is important to protect both by scheduling regular visits with a dentist in Lombard, IL.
These appointments can help you:
- Keep caps healthy, clean, and functional
- Pinpoint loose or damaged crowns faster
- Replace crowns before they fall off or cause damage
Ask Us If Dental Crowns Are Right for You
Are you ready to see if dental crowns in Lombard, IL, are right for you? Contact Dr. Julie Glud and the team at Dental Care of Lombard today to find out. Just send us a message online, or call us at (630) 629-5700 for booking, information, and more!
