How should you care for your gold crowns? If you're new to gold dental crowns, take a look at what you need to know to keep your teeth safe, healthy, and in top condition.
Understand Your Gold Dental Crown
You may already have dental crowns. But if you're new to gold crowns, you need to understand the difference in dental materials before you can properly care for your teeth. Gold crowns:
- Are made from different materials. The three primary types of gold crowns are precious metal (at least 60 percent high noble alloy, with 40 percent gold), semi-precious metal (25 percent noble allow), or non-precious metal (less and 25 percent non-noble allow).
- May include a combination of materials. Not only do all-metal crowns often include a gold mix (with platinum, palladium, chromium, or nickel), but some of these crowns are porcelain-gold blends.
- Are permanent. The dentist bonds the crown to your existing teeth. This means you can't remove the gold material on your own. If you want removable gold teeth, discuss a grill with your dentist.
- Are durable and long-lasting. The metal makeup is strong enough to resist chips, cracks, and other types of damage you may find with other types of crowns. But that doesn't mean you won't have to care for your gold dental crown.
Talk to your dentist about the specific type of gold crown you have (or will have). The dentist can provide you with more information on material mixtures and your options.
Clean Your Gold Dental Crown
Unlike gold grills or other removable teeth, you won't have to soak your crowns. Even though you won't have to buy special cleaning products, you do still need to care for your teeth and crowns. At-home crown care includes:
- Brush regularly. Brush all your teeth, including the crowns, at least twice a day for two minutes.
- Brush after meals. Along with morning and night-time care, brush your teeth after meals or snacks - especially after eating sticky or sugary foods.
- Floss. Floss in between teeth to remove plaque and debris buildup. This can keep your crowns, teeth, and gums healthy.
While whitening toothpastes are popular choices, these products won't have a brightening effect on gold teeth. Regular (non-whitening) fluoride-containing toothpaste is an acceptable choice for your crowns. If you want to whiten the rest of your teeth, talk to your dentist about the best options for your dental needs.
Maintain Your Gold Dental Crown
At-home care is the first step towards a healthy mouth. Regular brushing and flossing are necessary daily maintenance tasks. But that doesn't mean your gold tooth care should stop there. To keep your gold crown in top shape and reduce the risks of damage:
- Schedule regular dental visits. Maintain a regular dental office visit schedule. Talk to your dentist about how many office appointments you need annually.
- Call the dentist with concerns. If you damage your crown or have another issue, don't wait to call the dentist. Contact the office as soon as possible to schedule an appointment.
- Follow the dentist's instructions. Follow all directions the dentist provides you with. These may include the use of a specific toothpaste product, the type of toothbrush you should use, or other dental care steps.
- Choose what you eat and drink wisely. Even though gold dental crowns are durable, you should still avoid foods that may cause damage. Stay away from anything sticky or hard (such as hard candies and nuts) and don't chew ice.
With proper care and maintenance, you should get years of use from your gold dental crowns.
Do you need a gold crown to restore your smile? Contact Gold Teeth Baton Rouge for more information.
