A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap placed over a damaged, decayed, or weakened tooth to restore its shape, size, strength, and appearance. The restoration covers the entire visible portion of the tooth above the gum line, acting as a protective shield. Proper and consistent care is necessary to ensure the longevity of the crown and the health of the natural tooth structure underneath. Neglecting hygiene can lead to plaque accumulation, causing decay at the crown’s margin or gum inflammation.
Standard Daily Cleaning Practices
Maintaining the smooth, outer surface of the crown requires a gentle but thorough brushing technique. Dentists recommend using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a non-abrasive, fluoride toothpaste to prevent scratching the crown material or irritating the surrounding gum tissue. The crown should be brushed twice daily for two minutes, just like natural teeth, using small, circular motions.
Position the brush at a 45-degree angle directed toward the gumline to effectively dislodge plaque from the crown’s base. This angle is important because the area where the crown meets the gum is susceptible to bacterial buildup. Consistent, gentle pressure is more effective than aggressive scrubbing, which can cause gum recession and expose the vulnerable margin.
Specialized Cleaning for the Crown Margin
The most challenging area to clean is the crown margin, the interface where the cap meets the natural tooth structure near the gumline. Plaque and food debris can easily lodge in this space, potentially leading to recurrent decay beneath the crown. Specialized tools are often needed to ensure this area is adequately cleaned daily.
Traditional floss can be used with a floss threader, a small, stiff plastic loop used to guide the floss beneath the contact point between the crowned tooth and its neighbor. Once threaded, the floss is wrapped around the crown in a “C” shape and gently moved up and down to clean the side surfaces and just below the gum tissue. A specialized product like Superfloss, which features a stiffened end and a spongy section, can simplify navigating the tight interdental space.
Interdental brushes, small conical brushes designed to clean between teeth, are effective for wider gaps or around the crown’s base. For a more comprehensive flush, a water flosser, or oral irrigator, can deliver a pulsating stream of water. This removes debris from areas string floss cannot easily reach, especially beneath the margin or under a bridge. The pressurized water stream helps disrupt the bacterial biofilm that forms along the gumline and around the restoration.
Protecting the Crown from Wear and Tear
Beyond daily cleaning, the crown’s structural integrity is maintained by avoiding habits that place excessive mechanical stress on the material. Biting down on hard items, such as ice, hard candies, or unpopped popcorn kernels, can cause the crown to chip, crack, or fracture. Sticky foods, like taffy or caramel, should also be avoided because they can loosen the crown by pulling at the cement bond.
Patients who grind or clench their teeth (bruxism) subject their crowns to significant forces that accelerate wear. In these cases, a custom-fitted nightguard is recommended to cushion the bite and protect the crown from abrasion or breakage. A temporary crown, secured with weaker cement and less durable material, requires gentle chewing and care to prevent dislodgement before the permanent restoration is placed.
Signs That Professional Attention is Needed
A crown should feel stable and comfortable, and any changes in sensation or appearance warrant evaluation by a dental professional. Persistent or increased sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures, or pain when biting down, may indicate new decay under the crown or an issue with the underlying nerve. Visible signs of trouble include a loose or wobbly feeling, which suggests the cementing agent has failed.
A dark line or gap at the gumline where the crown meets the tooth may signal gum recession or leakage, allowing bacteria to enter and cause decay. Inflammation, persistent redness, or bleeding localized around the crown margin are signs of gum disease that home care cannot resolve. Any visible damage, such as a chip or fracture, requires prompt attention to prevent further compromise of the restoration and the tooth it protects.