Heart Health: Don't Neglect Dental Care

Your dental crown may develop problems. The add-on may accumulate plaque between the crown and the tooth. The crown won't decay, but it will worsen the spread of the infection to the surrounding teeth. 

You may also experience sensitivity a few days after the crowns are installed. This issue occurs because part of the crown is usually trimmed away during the procedure, exposing the dentin. Porcelain isn't as strong as your natural teeth. Hence, your crown may fracture due to trauma from accidental tooth injuries or other causes. 

To avoid the above issues and others, here are essential maintenance tips for your dental crowns.

Consider a Night Guard 

Occasionally grinding your teeth won't damage them. However, excessive grinding can adversely affect your teeth and trigger other complications, such as jaw disorders, sensitivity, and headaches. You may not notice you have the problem until it's too late. You should watch for the following symptoms:

• Loud grinding that wakes up your partner
• Fractured or chipped tooth
• Damaged teeth enamel
• Tooth pain
• Tight jaw muscles
• Sleep disruption

Teeth grinding can be due to anxiety, stress, anger, and racing thoughts. Moreover, mental and physiological disorders like Parkinson's disease, dementia, epilepsy, sleep apnea, and night terrors can also contribute to the problem. Your dentist can prescribe a night guard to cushion and protect your teeth and crown while sleeping. 

Watch What You Eat

During the first few days after a dental crown treatment, avoid eating hard foods that require a lot of chewing, such as granola, hard candy, and ice. These food items can dislodge the crown or loosen it. You should also avoid eating sticky foods like nuts, popcorn, raisins, steak, and chocolate, as they can pull off your tooth fitting. Moreover, you should stay away from cold foods like soda, beer, and ice cream. 

Your teeth will be sensitive immediately after a crown procedure, so cold foods will only worsen the condition. Conversely, you shouldn't eat very hot foods as they can aggravate sensitivity. You can wait for your food to get warmer before eating. If the pain becomes unbearable, your dentist may recommend special toothpaste to relieve the discomfort.

Maintain Oral Hygiene and Visit Your Dentist Regularly

You need to brush and floss your teeth daily to eliminate plaque buildup. Even though your crown isn't affected by bacteria, it can accumulate microbes and plaque, spreading to the neighboring teeth and gums. 

You should also visit your dentist regularly. The professional will examine your mouth for any potential abnormalities. They will also check if your crown fits properly or if it has accumulated plaque.

Speak to a dentist near you to learn more.