Caring for an Elderly Parent With Special Dental Needs
Dental Crown Aftercare Tips
Joe Lawrence
When you have a dental crown procedure, it is common to notice some sensitivity and gum irritation afterward. Thankfully, most dental crowns will feel better within just a few days. And, after a few weeks, they will feel just like the rest of your natural teeth!
However, if the root canal portion of the procedure was unusually complex or there was an infection present in the tooth or gums, then it may take a few weeks for your crowned tooth to feel natural.
Thankfully, aftercare tips are available to make your post-procedure experience as pain-free as possible, including:
1. Don't Chew Food on a Newly Installed Crown
One of the best things you can do to help your mouth heal is to avoid chewing on the new dental crown for the first day or two after it's been cemented in place. Although the dental adhesive is strong and the crown should never come off while chewing, this is always possible if the dental cement has not had adequate time to cure and reach its maximum strength and hardness.
Since your tooth will be sensitive anyway, it's always best to avoid chewing on the new crown for the first couple of days. When you do start to chew on it, go slow and start with softer foods.
2. Stick to Your Normal Oral Hygiene Routine But be Extra Gentle
Your oral hygiene routine after installing a dental crown should be the same as before. However, the area around the new crown will be sensitive in the days immediately following the dental work. You should not avoid brushing and flossing because preventing decay is still important, but make every effort to be very gentle.
Within a week or so after having a tooth crowned, you should be able to brush and floss as usual. And you absolutely should. Even the dental crown needs our cleaning because otherwise, you could suffer from decay around the tooth base.
3. Rinsing With Warm Salt Water is Vital for Healing and Pain Reduction
While you absolutely should follow your dentist's instructions to take over-the-counter anti-inflammatories or pain medication in the days following your dental crown installation, you can also relieve a lot of pain and discomfort by simply rinsing your mouth out with warm saltwater.
Saltwater is a natural antibacterial agent and helps calm the nerves and reduce inflammation around the area where your dental work was done. Reducing inflammation and calming nerves will make your mouth feel a lot better while your newly crowned tooth is healing.
Speak to your dentist to learn more about dental crowns.
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Caring for an elderly parent tends to be tough enough without the added stress of dealing with dental implants or dentures. But, the prospect is not the end of the world—there are many things you can do to ensure that your parent's dental health is not compromised without having to spend a lot of personal time doing the care yourself. Between working with the right dentist, hiring a service provider for part time work, and giving your parent the tools he or she needs to care for his or her own dental health at home, you'll find that dental health for your loved one isn't so tough or time consuming after all. Hopefully you are able to get the support and information you need right here.