Dental crowns are an ideal way to improve the look of your smile. If you have a chipped or broken tooth or your tooth has become weak and brittle from a root canal, having a dental crown installed will improve the appearance and make the tooth stronger. Getting a dental crown is usually a two step process. At your first visit, the dentist will file and shape your natural tooth as needed and apply a temporary crown to it. Once your permanent crown is completed in the lab, it will replace the temporary crown at your second visit.

While a temporary crown will protect your natural tooth from further damage, it can be broken off if you do not take precautions while wearing it. These are some tips for how to care for a temporary dental crown while you are waiting for your permanent crown to be created.

Brushing and Flossing 

Be extra gentle with the tooth that has the temporary crown when brushing and flossing your teeth. Do not brush the crown with fast, vigorous motions. Instead, use slower, circular motions while brushing your temporary crown. This will prevent it from working loose and falling out before you are ready to have the permanent crown installed.

When flossing your teeth, slide the floss outward instead of up and down on your crowned tooth. If you are flossing with an upward lifting motion, the crown could be pulled off easily.

Eating 

Avoid eating foods that are sticky because they may pull the crown loose from your tooth. Foods like caramel and taffy can easily grab your crown and pull it loose in only one bite. Drinking hot liquids may also cause the adhesive that is holding the crown in place to dissolve more quickly. 

Foods that have a high acid or alcohol content may also cause the adhesive to dissolve before you are ready to have the permanent crown applied. Do not drink alcoholic beverages or soda while you are wearing the temporary crown. Also avoid hard, crunchy foods like raw vegetables, popcorn, ice and hard candy to prevent breaking the temporary crown off.

Chewing 

Chewing gum should always be avoided when wearing temporary crowns. Even soft gum can pull the crown away from your tooth after it has been chewed for a short time. When chewing your food, try to chew on the side of your mouth that does not have the temporary crown. Eat soft foods that require only minimal chewing when possible.

The temporary crown is applied to the tooth after it has been filed and prepped to receive the permanent crown. Without a temporary crown to protect it, the tooth may be very sensitive and you could have some tooth pain while waiting on the permanent crown to be finished. However, this can be avoided if you eat and chew carefully while wearing the temporary crown. For more tips, contact a company like Adams Dental Center.