Dental crowns protect and strengthen teeth that have been damaged. Dental crowns also cover cosmetic damage, making your smile beautiful after an injury. When you get a dental crown, your dentist in Lyndhurst, OH can tell you about how you can maintain the crown to ensure it will last a long time. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Brush Your Teeth

Maintaining good oral hygiene is one of the first steps to maintaining your dental crowns. Brushing your teeth twice daily with a soft bristle toothbrush is key to keeping your teeth clean and gums healthy.

Use non-abrasive toothpaste when brushing your dental crown. Abrasive toothpaste can scratch the crown and cause damage over time. If you’re not sure which type of toothpaste is best for your teeth, ask your dentist. The dental professionals at Lyndhurst Family Dental would be happy to recommend an appropriate toothpaste.

2. See the Dentist Regularly

See your dentist at Lyndhurst Family Dental twice per year. During these regular visits, your dentist will clean your teeth and check for problems like periodontal disease and gum recession.

Gum recession exposes the tooth root and can put your tooth at risk of decay. Decay can put your dental crown at risk. Seeing the dentist can catch these problems in the early stages, which in turn can help protect your dental crown.

3. Don’t Whiten Your Teeth

If you have a porcelain crown, your dentist will match the crown to the color of your other teeth. Dental crowns aren’t affected by teeth whitening. If you choose to whiten your teeth, your dental crown will stay the same color, and your other teeth will be slightly lighter. If you have dental crowns, it’s best not to whiten your teeth, to maintain a consistent color.

4. Don’t Chew Non-Food Items

Dental crowns can be chipped by non-food items like pen caps and ice. If you have a dental crown, don’t chew on anything that isn’t food.

Do you have questions about how to maintain your dental crowns in Lyndhurst, OH? If so, ask your dentist at Lyndhurst Family Dental. We’re happy to help!