Foods to Avoid Eating With Dental Crowns

You’ve just left the dentist following a dental crown procedure and are starting to feel hungry. But what can you eat that won’t damage your affected tooth? Here’s what you can enjoy eating, along with what you should avoid after getting a dental crown.

The Creation of Your Dental Crown

When you need a crown, you’ll need to visit the dentist at least twice. The first visit is spent taking an impression of your teeth and gums so that the lab can construct a properly fitting crown. While you wait for your permanent crown, your dentist outfits you with a temporary crown. The dentist will use cement to keep the permanent crown in place.

To allow the crown to settle correctly in your mouth, you’ll need to be cautious with the foods and drinks you consume.

Foods to Avoid With a Dental Crown

1. Sugar – Regardless of whether you have a crown or not, you should limit the amount of sugar in your diet. Sugar interacts with plaque bacteria to create acid, which dissolves enamel slowly, creates cavities, and causes tooth decay.
2. Hard and Crunchy Foods – Foods such as granola, hard candy, pretzels, seeds, and nuts can cause your crown to break, chip, or dislodge. Cook vegetables thoroughly instead of eating them raw – at least until you have a permanent crown that’s settled in your mouth.
3. Popcorn – If you accidentally bite into an uncooked popcorn kernel, the kernel can get stuck in your teeth and cause crown damage.
4. Chewy or Sticky Foods – Certain foods that are sticky can grab the crown, dislodging it from your mouth. Steak is a prime example of a food that can be tough to consume when you’ve just gotten a crown. Be mindful when choosing snacks, and reconsider choices like caramel, taffy, and gum. Not only can they stick to your crown, but they also contain high amounts of sugar.
5. Hot or Cold Foods: Right after you receive your crown, your teeth will likely be more sensitive. If the root above the crown is exposed and your gums have receded, you may feel some pain. Try to avoid extremely hot or cold foods, and ask your dentist for a sensitive toothpaste recommendation if the pain is unbearable.
6. Ice – Ice is too hard for the crown to handle and can cause sensitivity from its extreme temperature.
7. Salads - While salads are a great source of vegetables, those additional items we put into our salad, like berries, nuts, croutons, raisins, raw carrots and seeds need to be avoided.

Soft and Easty to Chew Foods

• Soups: Creamy soups, broths, and pureed vegetable soups are excellent choices. Ensure they are not too hot as your teeth may be very sensitive to extreme temperatures at this time.
• Smoothies and Milkshakes: These provide essential nutrients and are easy to consume. Avoid adding hard or crunchy ingredients like nuts, seeds or granola.
• Mashed Potatoes: Smooth and easy to swallow, mashed potatoes are a comforting option.
• Steamed Rice: Soft and not sticky, steamed rice is a good carbohydrate source. Make sure the rice is fully cooked and not too sticky. Overall, steamed Rice is a fairly safe food to eat after getting a dental crown.
• Cooked Vegetables: Well-cooked vegetables like steamed cauliflower, peas, and soft squash are gentle on your crown. Ensure they are tender and easy to mash with a fork.
• Soft Fruits: Bananas, applesauce, and well-mashed avocados are good choices. Avoid fruits with small seeds that could get lodged around the crown like strawberries, raspberries and blackberries.
• Yogurt and Pudding: These smooth and creamy options are easy to eat and digest.
• Scrambled Eggs: Soft and protein-rich, scrambled eggs are a good breakfast or light meal option.
• Soft Fish: Flaky, well-cooked fish like cod, halibut or tuna is a good source of protein. Ensure there are no small bones.
• Pasta (well-cooked): Soft, well-cooked pasta with a mild sauce is usually safe to eat. Avoid very chewy or al dente pasta. Be cautious about your pasta sauce as well. Homemade sauces might have small bits of bone or grizzle from leaner ground beef. Bell pepper seeds or tomato seeds could be problematic as well.
• Tofu (soft): Soft tofu is a gentle and protein-rich option.

Other Eating Tips to Follow When You Have a Crown

To reduce the possibility of damage to your temporary crown, try to chew more on the unaffected part of your mouth (the opposite side).

When you floss, slide out the flossing string rather than lift it out. This can reduce the risk of pulling the crown out at the same time as you remove the floss.

Avoid Tearing Food: Instead of biting and tearing with your front teeth, cut food into smaller, manageable pieces.

When you receive your permanent crowns, you should wait at least 24 hours before returning to your regular diet and oral practices.

For more tips on preserving your crown, feel free to contact our knowledgeable dental team.