Stop Tooth Pain in its Tracks

Posted on: 1 April 2015

Dental crowns are designed to restore the structural stability of your teeth, and once installed allow you to continue eating and perform other mouth related activities as you have before. However, crowns will not last forever, and porcelain crowns in particular will degrade over time; this means that they will have to be repaired or replaced. By taking proper care of your newly installed porcelain crown, you can extend the lifespan of your porcelain crown.

Caring for Porcelain Crowns

Porcelain dental crowns will not degrade like regular teeth will. They are immune to damage from sugar and bacteria. However, they are still susceptible to physical wear and tear, which means that eating hard or acidic foods can cause damage to your crowns. It should also be noted that while your porcelain crown is able to protect your tooth somewhat, the tooth underneath the crown is still able to decay and form cavities, which can in turn cause the crown to become loose or damaged.

Besides regular and thorough dental hygiene, which should go without saying, keeping properly hydrated throughout the day can help extend the lifespan of your porcelain crown. This is because drinking water regularly can help rinse out any debris which may be built up in your mouth, and clean the gums and teeth surrounding the crown itself. Flossing or using a water pick to clean the tooth that has the crown on it especially can help reduce the chances of gum disease or tooth decay from causing the crown to have to be removed.

Porcelain crowns are also extremely susceptible to damage from grinding your teeth, which means that if you play any physical sports, such as soccer or football, a mouthguard is an absolute necessity. At the same time, if you are stressed in your day to day life or have a history of grinding your teeth at night, wearing a guard at night can help protect your crown from becoming damaged.

In terms of dietary changes, avoiding extremely hot foods, such as soup or coffee, as well as overly sticky food like jams and peanut butter can be a good idea. While these foods do not have to be cut out completely, letting them cool down and chewing thoroughly can help mitigate the risk of damage to your crown.

However, no matter how intensive your actions are, your porcelain crown will eventually need to be replaced. This is a simple limitation of porcelain as a material, coupled with the ever changing status of your dental health. Be sure to regularly visit your dentist to ensure that you are always well aware of the state of your oral health and the specifics of your situation. For more information, talk to a dental practice like Welch Dental Care.