What can you not eat with a temporary crown?

Having a temporary crown put on a tooth can be an adjustment. Temporary crowns protect damaged teeth while a permanent crown is being made. While temporary crowns are not meant to be worn long term, they serve an important purpose. Knowing what foods to avoid can help prevent damage and keep the temporary crown in place.

What is a temporary crown?

A temporary crown, also called a temporary cap, is a restoration placed on a damaged tooth after a root canal or crown preparation appointment. It protects the tooth until a permanent crown is ready to be cemented in place, which may take multiple appointments over the course of a few weeks.

Temporary crowns are made of acrylic or plastic-based materials and are designed to be functional while keeping the prepared tooth intact. They are cemented over a tooth with temporary dental cement. Unlike permanent crowns made of strong dental materials like porcelain or gold, temporary crowns are meant to be only a short-term solution.

Why do you need a temporary crown?

There are several reasons a dentist may place a temporary crown:

  • To protect a tooth after a root canal procedure. A temporary crown seals the tooth while custom crown is made.
  • To hold a proper shape around a prepared tooth after portion has been removed while awaiting permanent crown.
  • To allow healing time for teeth shifted or trimmed during orthodontic work before placing veneers or crowns.
  • To prevent teeth from shifting after an extraction while planning implant or bridge work.
  • To restore appearance and function of a tooth after trauma or decay.

Temporary crowns play an important role in protecting teeth between dental visits. However, because they are meant to be short-term, avoiding foods that can damage the temporary is key.

Foods to Avoid with Temporary Crowns

Being careful about what you eat with temporary crowns in place allows them to do their job. Some foods put temporary crowns at high risk of becoming loose, breaking, or becoming contaminated before the permanent crown is ready. Foods to avoid include:

Hard Foods

Hard foods are likely to crack, chip, or dislodge a temporary crown. Avoid:

  • Hard candies
  • Ice cubes
  • Popcorn kernels
  • Raw vegetables like carrots
  • Hard breads and rolls
  • Pizza crust
  • Hard meats like beef jerky

Chewy or Sticky Foods

Foods that adhere to teeth can grab and loosen temporary cement. Skip:

  • Gum
  • Caramels or taffy
  • Gummy candies
  • Licorice
  • Dried fruits like raisins
  • Sugary cereal
  • Granola or nut bars
  • Chewy breads like bagels
  • Chewing on ice or popsicles

Crunchy Foods

It’s best to avoid crunching while wearing a temporary crown. Steer clear of:

  • Nuts and seeds
  • Popcorn
  • Pretzels
  • Chips
  • Raw veggies
  • Pizza crust
  • Hard tacos or tostadas
  • Whole fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots

Hot, Cold, or Spicy Foods

Extreme temperatures can damage temporary cement bonds. Avoid:

  • Very hot drinks like scalding hot coffee or tea
  • boiling soups
  • Very cold treats like ice cream
  • Popsicles
  • Spicy foods with hot peppers
  • Citrus fruits and juices

Sticky, Sugary Foods and Drinks

Sugary foods feed bacteria under temporary crowns. Limit:

  • Candy
  • Cookies, cake, and other baked goods
  • Honey
  • Molasses
  • Maple syrup
  • Jellies and jams
  • Fruit juices
  • Sports drinks
  • Sweet tea or coffee drinks
  • Soda

Alcoholic Beverages

Alcohol can dry out temporary cement and lead to loosening. Avoid:

  • Beer, wine, and mixed drinks with alcohol
  • Straight hard liquor drinks

What You Can Eat with Temporary Crowns

While some adjustments are needed, you can still enjoy a variety of foods that are temporary crown-friendly:

  • Soft cooked vegetables like steamed carrots, squash, peas
  • Well-cooked pasta, rice, quinoa, oats
  • Eggs any style
  • Omelets, frittatas, scrambled eggs
  • Tender meats like chicken, fish, ground meats
  • Chopped, well-cooked fruits like bananas, melons, peeled apples
  • Cottage cheese, yogurt
  • Mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes
  • Blended soups, stews, chili
  • Protein shakes, smoothies
  • Soft breads and tortillas
  • Pancakes, waffles
  • Tofu
  • Milk, milk substitutes
  • Herbal tea, water

Focusing on soft, smooth foods allows you to get needed nutrition while being kind to the temporary crown.

Tips for Living with Temporary Crowns

Observing some basic precautions will help temporary crowns last their intended lifespan:

  • Avoid chewing on the crowned tooth. Spread chewing pressure to other teeth.
  • Cut food into small pieces to minimize biting force needed.
  • Avoid chewing ice, nails, pens, or other hard objects that can damage the temporary.
  • Brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush and avoid aggressive brushing.
  • Floss very gently around temporary crowns.
  • Use fluoride toothpaste and an antibacterial mouthwash to protect teeth.
  • Avoid smoking, chewing tobacco, and other oral tobacco products.
  • See a dentist immediately if the temporary crown loosens, breaks, or falls off.

Being proactive protects the tooth underneath until permanent restoration is complete.

What to Do if Your Temporary Crown Comes Off

Despite best efforts, temporary crowns sometimes become loose or fall out. If this happens:

  • Try placing crown back on if it has come completely off. Bite down gently to hold it in place.
  • Call your dentist immediately to schedule recementation if possible the same day.
  • Keep crown in place as well as possible until visit. Gently hold crown to tooth when needed.
  • Avoid chewing on the affected tooth.
  • Rinse with warm salt water to keep area clean.
  • Use dental wax or temporary cement from pharmacy if needed to help hold crown in place.
  • Take over-the-counter pain medication as needed for discomfort.

Seeing a dentist right away allows the temporary crown to be recemented or replaced before tooth is damaged. Leaving the tooth unprotected can lead to infection, fracture, or necessity for a new crown.

When to See a Dentist

It’s important to contact your dentist any time the temporary crown is damaged, loosens, or comes off the tooth. Seek emergency dental care if:

  • Crown has fully come off tooth and will not stay on
  • Tooth is exposed to air or liquids
  • Tooth feels painful or sensitive without crown in place
  • Soft temporary cement washes out from under crown
  • Tooth underneath seems cracked or injured
  • You experience gum swelling around the crowned tooth
  • You develop any signs of infection like fever, chills, bumps, discharge

Leaving a tooth without a temporary crown risks infection, fracture, and can damage the prepared tooth surface. Seek help as soon as possible to avoid permanent problems.

When You Can Get the Permanent Crown

Temporary crowns are meant to allow healing before permanent restoration. After an initial period, your dentist will have you return to:

  • Ensure the tooth and surrounding gums have healed fully.
  • Check the prepared tooth surface for any changes needed.
  • Take final impressions to create permanent crown.
  • Have new crown fitted, adjusted, and cemented into place.
  • Make any needed follow-up adjustments to bite or comfort.

For front teeth, a permanent crown may be placed around two weeks after temporary crown placement. For back molars that take more biting force, the permanent crown may be placed after a month or longer.

The permanent crown process may take:

  • 2 weeks after root canal treatment
  • 2-3 weeks after dental implant placement
  • 4 weeks or longer after wisdom tooth removal
  • 1 month or longer after orthodontic treatment

Your dentist will advise you on appropriate timing based on your individual tooth needs and restorative plan. Be sure to follow up as recommended for best results.

Living with a Temporary Crown: Summary

While temporary crowns require some care, they play an important role in protecting damaged teeth between dental visits. Follow these temporary crown tips:

  • Avoid chewing hard, crunchy, sticky, and excessively hot or cold foods
  • Eat soft, smooth foods like eggs, cottage cheese, ripe bananas
  • Gently brush with soft bristles and floss very carefully
  • See a dentist immediately if the temporary crown loosens or falls off
  • Get any damaged temporary crown recemented or replaced right away
  • Attend follow-up appointments to get permanent crown placed

Exercising care when eating and wearing the temporary crown will help keep your tooth healthy while awaiting permanent restoration.

Conclusion

Temporary crowns protect vulnerable teeth between appointments while a permanent crown is made. Avoiding hard, sticky, chewy, and crunchy foods helps prevent damage. Focus on soft foods, maintain good oral hygiene, and see a dentist promptly if problems arise. With proper care, a temporary crown will do its job while allowing fully successful placement of a durable permanent crown.

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