5 Tips to Keep Your Dentures Clean
Getting your dentures may have represented a sizable investment for you, and it likely made you feel better about how you look. Developing a cleaning routine is one of the best ways to preserve your smile.
How Can I Make My Crowns Last Longer?
Taking care of your teeth contributes to your overall good health and helps you look great, too. You may find that you feel more confident when your smile is spectacular—plus speaking clearly and being able to chew comfortably are good reasons to follow your dentist’s care suggestions.
Dr. Stephen Hiroshige and his staff make recommendations based on your particular situation. One common and helpful solution to numerous dental issues is a crown. A crown can be used with a bridge to stabilize a weak tooth or cap a dental implant.
Made of various materials such as zirconia, porcelain fused to metal lithium disilicate, or even gold, crowns are designed to last many years without special care, but you can do a few things that will help them last as long as possible.
In this post, we offer a list of things you should not do if you have a crown, as well as a list of things that you should do to help extend the life of your crown. It won’t come as a surprise that the same tips are helpful even if you don’t have a crown.
What you should not do
First, you should know that taking good care of a crown is quite similar to taking good care of a natural tooth. Here are some things to avoid:
1. Using your teeth as tools
Don’t rip open packages with your teeth. Don’t use your teeth to tear tape. Don’t try to bite a thread or string.
Your teeth are tools, but only for chewing food or chewing gum. Using your teeth instead of a knife or scissors is bad for them, and if you have a crown, you risk chipping or breaking it.
2. Don’t chew ice or hard candies
Crunching on ice cubes, biting hard candy, or trying to chew through popcorn hulls can break a crown—or a natural tooth. If you have this bad habit, work on curtailing it. Your crown will last longer.
3. Don’t ignore pain
If you notice pain in the tooth with the crown, or the surrounding teeth, schedule an appointment. Crowns are a way of protecting jeopardized teeth, and pain could be a sign of a problem.
4. Get treated for bruxism
Bruxism is the medical name for grinding your teeth. Do you wake up with pain in your jaw or with a headache? There's a good chance that you may be grinding your teeth while you sleep.
Grinding can wear out your crown, and it can also make your crown less stable. Dr. Hiroshige may suggest a dental appliance like a mouth guard if you have issues with grinding your teeth.
What you should do
Along with all the things you should avoid, you can take some proactive steps, too. For example, excellent dental hygiene can help extend the life of your crown and keep your other teeth healthy, as well. The following lists a few things you should do:
1. Brush twice a day
The best way to keep your teeth healthy is simple: Brush them. Experts recommend brushing twice a day.
Using a soft-bristled brush, focus on each quadrant of your mouth for approximately 30 seconds, which means you’ll spend about two minutes brushing.
2. Floss daily
Lots of people think flossing is optional, but if you want to keep your teeth healthy, floss every day. Flossing gets rid of debris from places you can't reach with just a toothbrush.
3. See Dr. Hiroshige regularly
Getting regular check-ups and professional cleanings is the best way to protect your oral health and to make sure your crown lasts as long as possible.
Is it time for you to come in? Schedule your appointment today!
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