Foods and Drinks to Avoid with Dental Crowns
For teeth that have been seriously decayed or damaged, dental crowns are an excellent option. Dental crowns are caps that fit over a tooth, protecting it from harm and potentially improving its appearance in the process. They’re an effective part of cosmetic and restorative dentistry procedures offered at Dr. Rob Zboril’s Victoria, TX practice. Of course, effective treatment depends on good aftercare.
The team at Zboril Dental Center would like to consider some foods and drinks to avoid after getting dental crowns placed. This advice can help prevent pain and discomfort, and extend the life of your dental crowns.
Hot and Cold Food Items
Immediately after getting dental crowns, your teeth may be especially sensitive to hot and cold temperatures. This is common, and will take a few days to resolve on its own. During this time, be sure to avoid temperature extremes, and go for foods that are room temperature.
Candies of All Kinds
Candy is bad for your teeth in general, and it can be bad for your crowns as well. Sticky candies like caramel, toffee, and taffy can cling to your crowns and potentially pull them free. Hard candies like Jolly Rangers and jawbreakers can do damage to the crowns over time.
After getting crowns, avoid candy for a few weeks as the crowns settle. Afterward, treat candy as a rare treat, having it only a few times during the year.
Chewing Gum
Chewing gum can be great for freshening the breath and promoting saliva production, but it can also lead to soreness around new crowns. Avoid chewing gum for a few weeks after you get your crowns placed, and then stick with sugar-free gum after that.
Crunchy Vegetables
Carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and other kinds of vegetables are good for you and taste great. As you recover from getting crowns, these kinds of vegetables might cause discomfort while biting and chewing. In the first weeks after getting crowns, be sure to cook your vegetables, which helps soften them.
Crispy Fruits
Apples, pears, and other crispy kinds of produce are excellent for your health, yet they can pose similar problems as crunchy vegetables soon after getting crowns. Switch to softer fruits in the first weeks after getting crowns placed.
Tough Meats
Tough steak and other kinds of red meats demand a lot from your teeth when it comes the biting and chewing. You can imagine the affect on crowns. That’s why it’s a good idea to have softer meats such as fish and chicken for the first few weeks after you get crowns.
Popcorn
Popcorn is a nice, light, and healthy snack, but the kernels can get caught between your teeth and under a crown as it’s settling in. Stay away from popcorn for a little bit of time after you get crowns just to be on the safe side.
Sugary Drinks
Soda, sweetened fruit juices, and other sugary beverages are commonplace everywhere. They can cause tooth decay and even impact dental crowns with time. If you have to hydrate, stick with water. Have soft drinks and sweetened beverages only sparingly.
Ice Cubes
Chewing on ice cubs can cause wear and tear on the teeth as well as any dental restorations in your mouth. That’s why it’s important to avoid biting down on ice cubes. The same goes for chewing on pens, drinking straws, and other kinds of inedible material.
Learn More About Dental Crowns
For more information about dental crowns and how they can help you have a healthy and beautiful smile, be sure to contact an experienced cosmetic and restorative dentist. Our office is here to help. You can reach Zboril Dental Center by phone at (361) 541-6344.
