Taking Care of Your New Crown or Bridge

It is extremely important to care for your replacement teeth. If your teeth were lost due to poor dental hygiene, now is the time to implement a better home dental care routine. While dental prosthetics cannot get cavities, decay-causing bacteria still exist and need to be thoroughly cleaned to avoid further gum disease.

Long-Term Care

Now that you have had your smile restored with a crown, fixed bridge, or dental implant prosthetic, you should be aware of the best way to care for your new restoration.

Immediately after your procedure, you may have some sensitivity. Use a toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth if necessary until this subsides. If you are having problems with your bite or the restoration doesn’t feel right, call our dentist to schedule an adjustment. To prevent further decay, use a fluoride rinse, such as Act.

Your replacement teeth can crack and break just like your natural ones. Refrain from using them as tools or chewing on hard items like pencils or ice. You’ve likely made a substantial investment in your new smile and it will serve you well if you treat it with care.

Keep frozen treats to a minimum and let hot foods and beverages cool down to a comfortable level, as extreme temperatures can affect the integrity of your restoration.

Crowns – Always continue to floss or use interdental brushes to clean between crowns and natural teeth.

Fixed Bridges - These require special cleaning under the replacement tooth or teeth. A bridge threader is often used to help the floss reach underneath to remove plaque and tartar. These are available at most pharmacies.

Implant-Supported or Hybrid Dentures – These are typically cared for like your natural teeth but may need special cleaning by the dentist from time to time.

If you don’t maintain a proper home dental hygiene routine you risk a host of problems from gum disease to systemic illness as oral bacteria can travel to other areas of your body.