Furumoto Dentistry has been a dedicated family dentist in Diamond Bar since 1979. Besides general treatment, our father-and-son team also offers cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, veneers, crowns, bridges, and more. While we offer exceptional dentistry services, we also emphasize the importance of ongoing maintenance for your teeth, especially for restorations such as dental crowns and bridges. Here are some ways you can clean and whiten your crowns and bridges.
Understanding Dental Crowns and Bridges
To understand how to better care for your dental crowns and bridges, it's important to know what they're made of. Crowns are caps that dentists create to cover damaged teeth, while bridges are two or more crowns that dentists use to fill the gaps when you have missing teeth.
Crowns and bridges are typically made from ceramic, porcelain, zirconia, or even porcelain fused to metal. And although they are resistant to staining, they can still suffer from surface damage. Moreover, over time, acidic foods can wear down their outer glaze.
Cleaning Your Dental Crowns and Bridges
Here are some ways you can keep your crowns and bridges clean:
- Use a soft-bristle brush to gently brush your crowns and natural teeth. Do this twice a day.
- Avoid abrasive or whitening toothpaste, as it can scratch the surface of your crowns.
- When flossing, make sure to floss under the bridge pontic.
- You can also use a water flosser to flush out any debris from under the bridge or in places where your toothbrush and floss can't reach.
- Finish the cleaning with an antibacterial mouthwash. An antibacterial mouthwash can prevent gum inflammation.
Is It Safe to Whiten Dental Crowns and Bridges?
Because dental crowns and bridges are resistant to staining, traditional whitening treatments won't change their color. That said, surface stains can cause your crowns to look dull over time. The best way to combat this issue is to have your dentist in Diamond Bar do a professional polish. This can restore your crown's original shine.
We highly advise against any DIY methods that involve the following:
- Whitening gels or strips: These contain chemicals that can damage crowns.
- Abrasive toothpastes: Abrasive toothpastes can scratch the surface of your crowns.
- Any kind of hard scrubbing: Harsh scrubbing can also scratch the surface of your crowns.
Maintaining a Brighter Smile
To maintain a brighter smile, you should care for your crowns and bridges in much the same way you would care for your natural teeth.
- Avoid food and drinks that stain your teeth, like coffee, tea, wine, berries, and dark sauces.
- Rinse your mouth immediately after eating or drinking anything that might stain your teeth.
- Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush.
- Don't use any tobacco products.
- Schedule regular checkups with our dentist in Diamond Bar.
Furumoto Dentistry: A Family Dentist in Diamond Bar
Need a family dentist in Diamond Bar? Our father-and-son team can ensure your teeth are well taken care of. Whether you need your crowns polished, a laser dentistry procedure, or general treatment, we can help! Contact us to make an appointment.