The best dentist in Reston VA will use dental crowns as a way to replace missing teeth or to help strengthen a weak tooth. Crowns are usually placed over the damaged tooth like a cap to protect the tooth from further damage while also providing additional support so that patients can chew properly without dealing with the weird feeling of a missing tooth.
Although relatively common, high-quality crowns are expensive and require adequate care and maintenance to preserve them for years. Here are few tips to ensure your dental crowns stay in the best shape possible:
1. Stick To Good Dental Hygiene Habits
Dental crowns can last anywhere from 5 years up to 15 years depending on the type of material used and how well you care of your teeth. The best dentist in Reston VA always recommends that patients take their dental hygiene habits seriously. While permanent crowns don’t require a lot of maintenance compared to temporary crowns, regular brushing and flossing are highly recommended.
2. Use Night Guard
Ask your dentist if they can fit you for a customized night guard to wear while sleeping. A night guard ensures that your lower and upper teeth do not touch or grind against each other at night. This is necessary for patients who have a history of teeth grinding because constant grinding can wear the crown down or even pop it off whole.
If a customized night guard isn’t an option, check your local pharmacy for over the counter night guards instead. Generic guards are better than not having one at all.
3. Ditch The Bad Habits
Constant chewing of gum can dislodge or loosen a dental crown, this and other bad habits such as chewing on ice, and biting on your nails can damage the crown prematurely. Try to cut back or if possible fully stop these bad habits to ensure your crowns stay in great condition for a long time.
4. Pay Attention To Sensitivity
It is normal for the tooth to have some degree of sensitivity after a dental crown is put in place, especially if a root canal wasn’t performed. However, if the tooth becomes highly sensitive towards cold and hot food and drinks, there might be a bigger problem at hand. Consult with your dentist about tooth sensitivity to ensure the crown and the tooth underneath are in excellent condition.
5. Observe For Signs Of Discomfort
The dental crown should allow you to chew your food without feeling odd or any form of discomfort at all. In case you do feel that something is amiss, the crown might need some additional fine-tuning. If this is the case, do not hesitate to call your dentist so that they can fix the problem right away.
6. Use Antibacterial Mouthwash
Dental crowns will not prevent bacteria from attacking your teeth and gum. Make sure to rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash while concentrating particularly on teeth with crowns.
7. Avoid Crunchy And Hard Food
Limit your consumption of hard and crunchy food as they will wear down the crown and require a replacement sooner rather than later.
8. See Your Dentist Regularly
As long as you keep up with your regular dental appointments your dental crowns will remain in excellent condition for a long time.
If you’re looking for the best dentist in Reston VA, visit Reston Dental Care. We’ve been providing personalized care for more than 33 years.