A dental crown functions as a protective cap placed over a damaged or weakened natural tooth, restoring its shape, size, and strength. Its longevity depends heavily on meticulous home care. The most important area to clean is the crown margin, the tiny seam where the restoration meets the natural tooth structure near the gum line. Plaque accumulation at this junction can lead to recurrent decay in the underlying tooth or cause gum inflammation, which compromises the crown’s seal and the health of the tooth it protects.
Daily Brushing and Flossing Techniques
Effective daily cleaning begins with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a non-abrasive toothpaste to protect the crown’s polished surface and surrounding gum tissue. Using a gentle, systematic technique is crucial, as aggressive brushing can cause gum recession and expose the margin. The modified Bass technique is highly effective, involving placing the bristles at a 45-degree angle toward the gum line. Use short, gentle back-and-forth vibratory motions, allowing the soft bristles to reach slightly beneath the gum line and dislodge plaque from the crown margin.
After vibrating the brush, sweep the bristles toward the chewing surface to clear away debris. Repeat this process around the crown’s entire circumference, cleaning the cheek-facing, tongue-facing, and chewing surfaces. Regular flossing is necessary for crowns not connected to a bridge to clean the surfaces contacting neighboring teeth. When flossing around a crown, gently slide the floss into the contact point and clean the tooth surface. Pull the floss out sideways from the contact point rather than snapping it upward, as pulling up risks catching the crown’s edge and potentially causing damage or dislodgement.
Specialized Tools for Cleaning Margins and Gaps
While standard brushing and flossing are necessary, crowns and fixed bridges often create unique spaces requiring specialized tools. A fixed bridge includes a prosthetic tooth called a pontic, which sits directly over the gum line and cannot be cleaned with standard floss. Floss threaders are flexible loops that act like a needle, allowing you to manually guide dental floss under the pontic or through the tight space beneath a crown margin.
Superfloss is a targeted product designed with a stiff end for threading, a spongy middle section for cleaning, and a regular floss end. The spongy portion is useful for maximizing contact with irregular surfaces under a pontics or around abutment teeth. Interdental brushes, which resemble tiny pipe cleaners, come in various sizes. They are used to physically scrub open spaces between teeth or around the sides of the crown where the gum has slightly receded. Selecting the correct brush size is important to ensure the bristles make contact without forcing the tool into too small an area.
Oral irrigators, commonly known as water flossers, offer an efficient method for cleaning difficult-to-reach areas using a pressurized stream of water. The pulsating water jet flushes out plaque and food debris from under a bridge, around the crown margin, and from tight spaces between teeth. Many models include specialized tips, such as the Plaque Seeker tip, designed with tufts of bristles to enhance mechanical cleaning around restorations. This tool is an excellent supplement to traditional cleaning, especially for individuals with limited dexterity or multiple large restorations.
Habits and Products to Avoid for Crown Longevity
Protecting the crown material and the adhesive seal requires avoiding habits that introduce excessive force or chemical degradation. Chewing on hard objects like ice, pen caps, or fingernails creates concentrated stress that may chip the porcelain or crack the underlying cement seal. Highly acidic foods and beverages, such as citrus fruits, soda, and energy drinks, can erode the natural tooth structure surrounding the crown and the bonding agent over time.
The choice of toothpaste is significant, as abrasive pastes can scratch the crown’s polished surface and cause wear on the exposed root surface. Toothpaste abrasivity is measured by its Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA) value; select a formula with a low RDA, generally below 70. Alcohol-based mouthwashes should be used cautiously or avoided, as the alcohol content may weaken the bonding material securing the crown. For individuals who grind or clench their teeth at night (bruxism), wearing a custom-fitted nightguard is a necessary protective measure to absorb forces and prevent premature wear or fracture of the crown.