How to Whiten Dental Crowns

A dental crown is an artificial tooth that covers a tooth in order to restore its appearance and strength. Crowns are put in place by a dentist, and firmly cemented in to prevent loosening and discomfort. Crowns come in various materials, but the type of material has little to do with the proper hygiene needed to preserve the crown’s appearance. Crowns that have become stained due to poor dental hygiene or age can only be whitened by professional dental procedures intended for crown whitening. Other whitening products will not suffice. Learn how to care for dental crowns to reduce crown discoloration.

Instructions

• 1

  Crowns cannot be whitened without a specialized dental procedure. A dentist must use a specialized whitening polish in order to restore the crown's natural color. It is advised that you don’t use whitening strips and other whitening products on crowns because they can break down the crowns' material, making them more susceptible to stains.

• 2

  Maintain the appearance of crowns by proper cleaning. Brush twice a day to minimize crown stains and plaque buildup.

• 3

  Floss in between dental crowns after every meal, as this can remove the staining food particles that cause plaque. Floss around the crown area, where gum and tooth meet. Make sure to lift the particles out -- do not slide floss through the teeth, as this can cause the crown to shift out of place.

• 4

  Limit sticky foods that can adhere to the crown’s surface. Brush and floss after eating to reduce the chances of stains and crown deterioration.

• 5

  Replace dental crowns that have become worn and discolored. A crown’s life span depends on how well the dentist inserted the crown and how successfully the wearer cared for the crown. At best, the crown is supposed to last anywhere from 5 to 15 years. See a dentist twice a year to better maintain a crown's appearance and longevity.