Foods to Avoid With Crowns and Bridges

When you suffer loss or damage to your permanent teeth, it’s important to have them replaced or covered in order to prevent further oral health complications. Crowns and bridges are two types of dental fixtures that can either protect your existing teeth or replace missing ones. 

A crowns is a tooth-shaped cap made of metal or ceramic materials that is used to restore weak, broken, or decayed teeth. The crown fits snugly over your existing tooth and protects it from further damage.

Bridges are used to replace one or more missing teeth. They’re made up of two crowns that cover existing teeth and have artificial teeth in the middle to replace the missing ones. As the name suggests, they “bridge the gap” between teeth.

Both crowns and bridges are made of delicate materials and can break easily if you don’t care for them properly. That’s why you need to take precautions in both your oral hygiene routine and your diet to ensure they last as long as possible.

Because of that, Nasrin Sadeghi, DMD, Medha Singh, BDS, DMD, MS, and the rest of our team at First Dental Associates in Reading, Massachusetts, want to review the things you should and should not eat if you have dental crowns and bridges.

Foods to eat right after you get a dental crown or bridge

Because both crowns and bridges are custom made for you, we have to provide you with a temporary crown or bridge while your unique one is being created. Right after your permanent crown or bridge is placed, your mouth may be sore while it’s healing. 

While you have the temporary fixture in and right after permanent placement, we recommend eating a variety of softer foods such as mashed potatoes, yogurt, oatmeal, soup, scrambled eggs, and pasta.

Foods to avoid for long-lasting crowns or bridges

Crowns and bridges are both permanent fixtures, meaning you can’t remove in the same way as dentures. Just because they’re permanent, though, doesn’t mean they’ll last forever. 

However, you can increase their longevity by avoiding these foods that are known to damage crowns and bridges:

• Hard nuts
• Popcorn with kernels
• Sticky or chewy candy such as taffy
• Ice cubes

In addition, you will want to avoid chewing on hard objects such as pens, pencils, or your fingernails.

If you do break your crown or bridge, be sure to come in and see us right away so we can do the proper repairs as quickly as possible. To schedule an appointment with us, simply give us a call at 781-438-1312 or use our online booking tool.