You may have a tooth crown for a number of reasons, and you may be wondering how to take care of it. The following is a simple guide that will teach you how to care for your crown and what to do if it falls out.

How To Care For Your Dental Crown

Your crown could be there to protect your cracked tooth or a tooth that has been severely damaged by cavities, so it is in your best interest to consider the following:

--Flossing will help keep food particles away from your newly-placed crown. This is important because food particles can make their way in between your crown and tooth given enough time. This also prevents further dental damage like plaque or cavities.

--Make sure you do not grind your teeth. You can use mouthguards, or talk to your dentist about other possible solutions if you have this problem. 

--Be sure to stay away from hard foods like hard candy or nuts unless you can keep whatever you are eating away from your crown. Hard foods can weaken the bond between your damaged tooth and crown, causing it to fall off prematurely.

You can talk to your dentist about other things that you can do to make sure your crown lasts as long as it should, which could be between 5 to 15 years.

What To Do If Your Crown Falls Off

You can try to prevent your crown from falling off as much as you can, but that doesn't mean that an accident couldn't occur, and you should be prepared for the possibility. Consider the following steps, just in case:

1. The first thing that you want to do is get the crown out of your mouth; you want to prevent swallowing or choking on it.
2. Examine the crown to make sure you don't see a piece of your tooth inside of it. You will need to have your dentist retreat your fractured tooth quickly if you see a piece of your tooth in the crown.
3. Clean the crown, and carefully clean the exposed tooth. Place the crown in a clean container or plastic bag.
4. Call your dentist as soon as you can to see when he or she can reattach the crown. Remember that the exposed tooth is very vulnerable. Ask your dentist if you can temporarily reattach the crown using mild dental cements that you can purchase in your local pharmacy.

You can clearly see the importance of taking care of your crown and what to do if it ever falls off. Be sure to keep up with your oral care appointments so that your dentist like Webster John B DDS can check the condition of your crown periodically.