Crowns are commonly used by dentists to repair damaged teeth. It's important that crowns are properly maintained so that they last as long as possible and allow patients to avoid discomfort.

The following are six mistakes it's important to avoid when you have dental crowns placed on your teeth to avoid problems.

1. Neglecting good oral hygiene habits

Regular brushings are especially important if you have crowns because they help to keep debris away from the crown and prevent bacterial growth.

If you have crowns, you should stick to a brush with soft bristles when you brush. Hard bristles could potentially cause damage to crowns. 

2. Being careless or excessively rough when you're flossing

Flossing is always important to maintain good oral health. However, it's especially important if you have dental crowns because it minimizes the chances that food particles or bacteria will accumulate around your crown.

While flossing is important, you need to be careful when you floss to avoid damaging your crown. Don't lift floss up right around your tooth where you have crowns. It's safer to slide the floss up carefully around crowns to avoid loosening them.

3. Failing to regularly use mouthwash

Mouthwash is especially important for patients with crowns because it kills bacteria and can prevent infection from developing around crown sites.

Using mouthwash can also help to remove food particles from any gaps around your crown that could prematurely wear out the crown over time. 

4. Eating a lot of hard, sticky, or chewy foods

If you have dental crowns in your mouth, it's always a good idea to watch what you're eating.

Foods that are hard, sticky, or chewy can weaken or damage crowns. It's best to minimize the amount of hard, sticky, and chewy foods you're eating to maximize the lifespan of your crowns.

5. Putting a lot of pressure on teeth with crowns on them

You might want to get into the habit of eating on the other side of your mouth if you have a crown on one side. This will take some of the stress off of your crown and minimize the likelihood of any developing weakness over time. 

6. Failing to see your dentist immediately if you notice any irregularities

It's important to keep your dentist posted about what's going on if you have dental crowns. Dental crowns need to be maintained and could wear out over time, so it's important that crowns get attention from your dentist so that they are replaced if necessary.

The sooner you notify your dentist of any irregularities or weaknesses you've noticed in the tooth with a crown, the more likely you'll be to avoid any complications. For more information, contact a dentist like Michael G Landy DDS.

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