Dental Crown Care and Maintenance Guide

We want to help you protect your dental investment and enjoy a healthy, beautiful smile for years to come. If you have a dental crown, it’s important to care for it just like you would your natural teeth. Here are our expert recommendations for keeping your crown clean and in top condition:

Brush Twice Daily: Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste to gently brush your teeth—making sure to clean all sides of your crown, especially along the gumline where bacteria and plaque can build up.

Floss Every Day: Flossing is essential, particularly around the area where your crown meets your natural tooth. This helps prevent gum disease and decay. You can use regular dental floss, a floss threader, or an interdental brush for hard-to-reach spots.

Rinse with Antibacterial Mouthwash: An antibacterial mouthwash can help reduce bacteria and keep your mouth feeling fresh.

Be Gentle: Avoid abrasive toothpastes or hard-bristled brushes, as these can scratch your crown. Also, don’t use your teeth as tools and try not to bite down on hard foods or objects, which could damage your crown.

Schedule Regular Checkups: Regular visits to Four Corners Dental Group are important so our team can monitor the condition of your crown and provide professional cleanings when needed.

We often get questions from our patients about what to expect after receiving a dental crown—especially regarding eating and returning to normal routines. Generally, you can eat normally with your new crown once it has been properly placed and any initial sensitivity has subsided. After our team cements your crown in place, it should function just like a natural tooth, allowing you to chew and bite as usual.

Immediately following your procedure, we recommend waiting until the anesthesia fully wears off before eating to prevent accidentally biting your cheek or tongue. For the first day or two, try to avoid especially sticky, hard, or chewy foods, as these could dislodge a temporary crown or put extra stress on your new permanent crown.

Once your crown has settled in, you can return to your typical diet. However, to protect your crown and ensure its long-term success, we advise against chewing ice, biting your nails, or using your teeth to open packages. These habits can damage both crowns and natural teeth.

Maintaining good oral hygiene and scheduling regular dental checkups at Four Corners Dental Group will help keep your crown—and the rest of your smile—in excellent condition for years to come. If you have any questions or concerns after your crown placement, our team is always here to help!

We want to ensure that your dental crowns—and your natural teeth—stay healthy for years to come. While dental crowns themselves don’t require a special toothpaste, selecting the right one is important for protecting both your crowns and the surrounding tooth structure.

Most crowns are made from durable materials such as porcelain, ceramic, or metal, which are resistant to decay. However, the natural tooth beneath and around your crown can still be vulnerable to cavities and gum disease. That’s why our dentists at Four Corners Dental Group recommend using a non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste. Avoid highly abrasive toothpastes, like some whitening or smokers’ formulas, as these can scratch the surface of porcelain or ceramic crowns, causing them to lose their shine or become more prone to staining.

Fluoride toothpaste is beneficial because it helps protect any exposed natural tooth at the gum line from decay. Along with using the right toothpaste, maintaining good oral hygiene by brushing twice daily and flossing around your crown will help prevent plaque buildup and gum disease.

If you have a dental crown, maintaining regular visits is essential for the longevity of your crown and the health of your surrounding teeth and gums. Our dental team recommends coming in every six months for routine checkups and professional cleanings, whether or not you have a crown. These regular appointments allow our experienced dentists to closely monitor the condition of your crown, check for any signs of decay or gum disease around the crowned tooth, and address any issues early on—often before you notice symptoms.

We understand that every patient is unique. If you have a history of dental concerns or multiple crowns, our team may recommend more frequent visits to ensure your oral health remains on track. Always follow the personalized care plan provided by your Four Corners Dental Group dentist, as it is designed specifically for your needs and oral health status.

Combining regular dental visits with good oral hygiene at home is the best way to keep your crown—and your entire smile—in top condition. For more information, contact us today or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 3901 Raspberry Rd, Anchorage, AK 99502. We serve patients from Anchorage AK, Downtown Anchorage AK, Midtown Anchorage AK, South Addition Anchorage AK, Fairview Anchorage AK, Abbott Loop Anchorage AK, Eagle River AK, Campbell AK, South Anchorage AK, Chugiak AK, Spenard AK, and surrounding areas.