A Healthy Smile Is Important for a Great Overall Appearance

If you have a tooth with a surface that is worn down or damaged, but the root is still very healthy, your dentist's recommendation may be to have a crown installed on the tooth to protect it. It's a common dental technique that can work quite well, but it is not perfect. If dental crowns are not cared for, they can become weak and potentially break. When you have a crown installed on one of your teeth, follow these tips to help maintain it.

Use A Mouthguard

You need a crown because something damaged your tooth. A common way it happens is from unexpected trauma, such as a sports related injury or an accident. It can also happen from a habitual problem like teeth grinding at night. You can protect your teeth and new crown from further damage by using a mouthguard.

Mouthguards are flexible dental appliances that work while sleeping or when participating in any activity that may endanger the health of your teeth. While there are mouthguards that can be purchased at your local drug store, they typically are not the most comfortable to wear. If the mouthguard isn't comfortable, chances are that you won't wear it when you need to.

Thankfully, it's possible to have a dentist custom make a mouthguard for you that is designed specifically for your mouth. It will fit much better, making it easier to wear when sleeping or playing sports.

Breaking Bad Habits

There are habits that you may have that can cause damage to your teeth since it puts a lot of pressure on them. This includes nail biting, ice chewing, and using your teeth to open packages or bottles.

You should also avoid foods that are very sticky since it can pull the crown right off your tooth. Stay away from Jolly Ranchers or candy apples in particular.

Maintain A Good Oral Health Routine

There may be a crown on top of your tooth, but you have two different layers of the tooth to be concerned about protecting. If the area around the crown starts to rot due to decay, bacteria can get underneath the crown and cause all kinds of problems. A crown doesn't mean that you have added protection and can ignore a proper oral health routine.

For more info about how to maintain your crown, speak with a dentist like Smile City. They can let you know if there are any special care instructions you should be made aware of.