If you’ve experienced significant tooth decay, your dentist might advise on receiving a crown. It involves removing the decayed parts of the tooth and placing a tooth-shaped cap over the top to restore its shape, size, strength, and appearance.
Crowns help preserve the tooth from further damage. It’s often the preferred option for any teeth that are decayed, cracked, or worn down. Even after a root canal procedure, permanent crowns are the go-to option.
But can anything damage these crowns? If you decide to invest in a sonic electric toothbrush to protect your teeth, will it affect your permanent crowns? Let’s find out.
Can You Use an Electric Toothbrush on Permanent Crowns?
Let’s be clear: no electric toothbrush can damage your crowns – not even sonic toothbrushes. The vibrations created by the sonic electric toothbrush are great enough to remove the plaque stuck to your teeth. However, they aren’t anywhere near strong enough to damage or disrupt the dentistry cement securing your crown in place.
Permanent crowns are designed to act like normal teeth. They’re made from either porcelain, ceramic, metal, or a combination of these materials. Metal certainly can’t be affected by an electric toothbrush. But, neither can either porcelain or ceramic, which are exceedingly hardwearing.
In fact, toothbrush manufacturers consider these problems when designing their products. Given the additional emphasis on good dental hygiene after the crowns are fitted, manufacturers are extremely conscious of designing a toothbrush that’s both safe and effective at preventing further damage.
Can You Use an Electric Toothbrush on Temporary Crowns?
Permanent crowns are fastened in place with extremely strong dentistry cement. Temporary crowns, on the other hand, are much less secure. In contrast, these crowns can be damaged or made loose with certain sonic electric toothbrushes.
The high vibrations or oscillations can dislodge the crown by disrupting the underlying cement. This weakened crown soon enough becomes loose or even displaced entirely. Little wonder people are wary about using the right toothbrush with some forms of crowns.
The solution is to opt for a static toothbrush for the duration of the temporary crown. The best brushes are soft bristled as these clean the teeth without applying too much pressure. It’s important not to treat the tooth too harshly while removing all the build-up of plaque and bacteria. The temporary crown must be kept clean. You might also want to be careful when flossing. Floss can easily become stuck, pulling out the temporary crown if too much pressure is applied. Indeed, even if it’s loosened slightly, the crown almost inevitably is going to dislodge or fall out. That’s why it’s crucial to take your time when working around a temporary crown – just until the permanent one is fitted.
Benefits of Using a Sonic Toothbrush
Despite the risks with a temporary crown, sonic toothbrushes are the gold standard for all other dentistry scenarios. It offers, by far, the best level of cleaning compared to other toothbrushes. Here are a few benefits:
Healthier Teeth and Gums
There’s little doubt: sonic toothbrushes are more effective at removing plaque and food debris from your teeth. The sonic vibrations are designed to lift the plaque away from the teeth without applying too much pressure. In fact, some toothbrushes come with several different settings for different cleaning circumstances.
Take the Oclean X Pro Elite Sonic Toothbrush, for example. It comes with 4 distinctive brushing modes, ranging from clean and sensitive to massage and whitening. Plus, with a built-in Maglev motor, the toothbrush reaches 84,000 movements per minute – a rapid blur that’s perfect for cleaning.
Speeds up Cleaning
What holds most people back from clean teeth? The hassle, of course. People put off cleaning their teeth because good dental hygiene seems to take forever. With a sonic electric toothbrush, you can achieve a greater clean in less time. You won’t need to apply the same level of pressure or effort when cleaning.
Due to their steady rate and speed, all you need to do is place the electric toothbrush on your teeth and gently guide the head along. It’s simple and effective.
Reduces Risk of Gum Disease
Gum disease is something that shouldn’t be ignored. When food becomes stuck and plaque begins to build up, it acts as a breeding ground for bacteria. Soon enough, the gums are inflamed, increasing the long-term risk of tooth decay and damage.
Sonic toothbrushes work to clean all parts of the teeth equally. They can lift away any food particles or bacteria, helping to prevent gingivitis, gum disease, and periodontal problems. It’s the best method for protecting your teeth long-term.
Sonic Electric Toothbrush Cleaning Tips
Whether you’ve got a permanent crown or not, the same cleaning tips apply. Using a sonic toothbrush is generally much simpler than the alternatives. However, there are some mistakes people tend to make. Follow these tips for the best results:
✓ Don’t Press Too Hard. First and foremost, you don’t need to pressure too hard with your sonic electric toothbrush. Gentle pressure is enough to achieve the desired clean. Pressing too hard can damage the gum, increasing the risk of gum disease.
✓ Only Clean For 2 Minutes. Cleaning too little or too long either leaves your teeth not clean enough or else can damage the gums. Restrict your cleaning to a simple 2-minute session.
✓ Clean Your Mouth in Section. When cleaning your teeth, it’s easy to miss a bit. That’s fine once or twice. However, if this happens repeatedly, teeth can decay. Split the mouth into four sections and work from one to the next.
✓ Floss Regularly. People neglect flossing compared to toothbrush cleaning. Yet, it’s one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of gum disease. Even the best sonic toothbrushes can’t get between the teeth themselves. Combine flossing with an interdental brush for peak cleaning. It’s the only way guaranteed to remove all the plaque and bacterial build-up.