A new crown is made from porcelain, zirconia, or metal. None of those materials can get a cavity.
The part we spend more time explaining is what the crown is sitting on: your natural tooth, which can still decay along the edge where the crown meets the tooth.
So learning how to take care of crowns is really about taking care of that edge. Below is the routine we recommend to patients at our Irvine practice, what habit to avoid that crack or loosen crowns, and how care differs by crown type.
If you’re still wearing a temporary, our guide to temporary vs. permanent crowns covers that stage.
What You’re Actually Protecting: the Tooth Under Your Crown
A crown covers the visible part of a damaged tooth, but the tooth underneath is still natural tooth structure. The seam where the crown ends and your tooth begins is called the margin, and it often sits near the gumline. Plaque builds up along that seam, and it’s where new cavities form around or beneath a crown.
In a long-term survey of crowns and bridges, decay was the most common single cause of failure.
An 18-year study that followed more than 1,000 crowns found the same: decay was the most frequent reason for failure, followed by periodontal disease. Crowns can also chip, crack, or come loose, but the tooth and gums around the crown are the part your daily routine protects.
That’s why every step below focuses on keeping plaque off the margin and keeping your gums healthy.
How to Clean Around a Crown Every Day
You don’t need special products to care for a dental crown. You need to aim your existing routine at the right spot.
- Brush twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Angle the brush about 45 degrees toward the gums and use short, gentle strokes so the bristles sweep along the edge of the crown, not just across its top.
- Choose a non-abrasive toothpaste. For crowned teeth, we recommend a non-abrasive toothpaste with gentle pressure rather than a gritty paste and hard scrubbing.
- Floss once a day. Curve the floss into a C shape against the tooth and slide it gently under the gumline on both sides. If the floss catches on the crown edge, slide it out sideways instead of snapping it back up.
- Add a water flosser if flossing is hard. An oral irrigator is a good supplement to string floss, especially if you have several crowns or a bridge that makes string floss awkward.
- Rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash to help keep plaque and bacteria down between brushings.
If you have a bridge, the crowned teeth on either end need the floss to pass under the false tooth. A floss threader or water flosser makes that much easier.
Ask us to show you at your next cleaning.
Not sure you’re cleaning around your crown the right way? We’ll walk you through it at your next visit.
Book a Cleaning and Crown Check
Foods and Habits That Crack or Loosen Crowns
Crowns are durable, but they aren’t indestructible. Most of the chipped and loosened crowns we see come from a short list of habits.
Hard foods and objects. Ice cubes, popcorn kernels, hard nuts, bottle caps, and pen caps are some of the most common ways crowns get chipped or cracked. Chewing ice is the one we hear about most. Cut tough foods into smaller pieces rather than biting into them with a crowned front tooth.
Sticky foods. Caramel, taffy, and chewy candy tug on the crown and can pull it loose over time. Extremely hard, crunchy, or chewy foods can damage or dislodge a crown.
Using your teeth as tools. Opening packages, tearing off tags, and chewing on pens can all damage a crown.
Grinding your teeth at night. If you grind or clench your teeth, a night guard is one of the best ways to protect your crown so it lasts longer. A mouthguard can protect crowns and bridges from damage, and custom-made guards protect against grinding better than store-bought ones.
Many people don’t know they grind until we spot the wear.
Crown Care by Type: Porcelain, Zirconia, Gold, Root Canal, and Implant Crowns
The daily routine is the same for every crown, but what you’re guarding against changes with the material and the tooth underneath. This is the part of crown care most guides skip.
| Crown situation | What to watch for | Extra care |
|---|---|---|
| Porcelain / all-ceramic | Chips or fractures from hard bites over time | Avoid biting hard objects with front teeth; non-abrasive toothpaste |
| Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) | Porcelain chipping; a dark line at the gumline if gums recede | Tell us if a dark line appears; all-ceramic and zirconia crowns have no metal to show |
| Zirconia | Very strong; handles heavier forces than other ceramics | Night guard still recommended for grinders |
| Gold / metal | Rarely chips or breaks | The margin is the main concern, so floss carefully |
| Crown on a root canal tooth | No nerve, so no hot/cold warning if decay starts | Don’t skip checkups; x-rays are your early warning |
| Implant crown | Can’t decay, but the gums and bone around it can develop peri-implant disease | Brush, floss, and see us regularly, just like natural teeth |
In a study of more than 3,400 single crowns, a root canal-treated tooth was the most significant risk factor for crown failure.
Those teeth no longer react to hot or cold, so decay can grow without the usual warning. If your crown sits on a root canal tooth, our article on what happens after a root canal explains why that tooth needs extra protection.
For implant crowns, the care routine overlaps with natural teeth. Our guide to caring for dental implants covers the specifics.
If you’re still deciding on a material, our comparison of porcelain vs. zirconia crowns walks through the trade-offs.
Have a crown on a root canal tooth or an older crown with a dark line? Let us take a closer look.
The First Few Weeks: What’s Normal After Getting a Crown
Right after getting a crown, it’s normal for the tooth to feel a little different. Some sensitivity for a couple of weeks, especially to heat and cold, is common, and over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can ease any discomfort. A desensitizing toothpaste can help with mild sensitivity after getting a crown.
The one thing not to wait out is a bite that feels high. If your new crown hits before your other teeth when you close, that extra pressure can cause soreness and a lingering ache, and a quick bite adjustment fixes it quickly.
There’s no reason to live with it.
When Should You Call Your Dentist About a Crown?
Here’s how we’d sort the most common crown complaints.
| What you notice | Usually normal? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Mild hot/cold sensitivity in the first 2 weeks | Yes | Sensitive toothpaste; call if it lasts beyond 2 weeks or worsens |
| Bite feels high or uneven | No | Call for a bite adjustment |
| Crown feels loose or moves | No | Call us; avoid chewing on that side |
| Bad breath or a bad taste near the crown | No | Call us so we can check the margin |
| Chip, crack, or sharp edge | No | Call us |
| Dark line at the gumline | Sometimes | Have us check it; it can be exposed metal or decay |
| Food keeps catching in one spot | No | Call us so we can check the fit |
If your crown falls off, keep it in a small container or bag and call us, even if it doesn’t hurt. Don’t use super glue or household adhesives.
Over-the-counter temporary dental cement or dental wax can protect the tooth until your visit, and chew on the other side in the meantime.
How Long Do Crowns Last With Proper Care?
The average dental crown lasts five to 15 years, and they can last upwards of 30 years with proper care. The difference usually comes down to the habits above and to regular dental checkups.
Checkups matter for crowned teeth because decay at the margin often starts where you can’t see it. On an x-ray, early decay under a crown can show up as a translucent area before it becomes obvious, and in our experience, the earlier we find it, the more options we have for saving the tooth.
For the full picture of how crowns are placed, see our step-by-step guide to the dental crown procedure.
Regular checkups are the easiest way to catch problems at the margin before they cost you the tooth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a tooth still get a cavity under a crown?
Yes. The crown itself can’t decay, but the tooth underneath and the gums around it are still vulnerable to plaque.
Decay often starts at the edge where the crown meets the tooth, which is why brushing and flossing at the gumline matters so much.
Can I whiten a dental crown if it becomes stained?
No. Whitening will not work on crowns, veneers, or fillings. If you want whiter teeth and have a crown on a visible tooth, it’s best to whiten first and match the crown to your new shade.
If an older crown no longer matches, replacing it is the only option.
Is it hard to keep crowns clean?
Not usually. A well-fitting crown is cleaned the same way as a natural tooth: brush, floss, and see your dentist regularly.
The extra effort goes into the gumline, where floss or a water flosser does what a toothbrush can’t. If food keeps getting stuck around one crown, let us know so we can check the fit.
Keep Your Crown (and Your Tooth) Healthy
Good crown care comes down to three things: keep the margin clean, don’t bite things that aren’t food, and don’t skip checkups. If you have a crown that feels off, or you think you might need one, our team can help.
Learn more about dental crowns at Stan Chien DDS, or signs you may need a dental crown.
Call (949) 379-8010 or request an appointment to schedule a crown check in Irvine.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always follow your dentist’s specific instructions for caring for your crown, as individual care recommendations may vary based on your unique situation.
