2 Tips To Prevent Craze Lines When Wearing A Dental Restoration As A Teen
As a teen, getting a dental restoration can be the difference between a crooked and uniform smile. Dental restorations like crowns and bridges can last a long time if they are well taken care of. However, if they are not treated well, they can lead to craze lines. These are small cracks that are extremely hard to notice unless you are specifically looking for them. While craze lines may not mess up the aesthetic of your smile, they can result in larger cracks that are much more expensive to fix. These cracks can also jeopardize the health of your teeth. As a result, it is important to prevent them from happening. Luckily, there are a few tips that you can use to prevent this from happening.
Always Use a Mouth Guard When Playing Sports
If you have a dental restoration, then it is often a misconception that your dental restoration does not need protection. Dental restorations may appear strong on their own. However, leaving a dental restoration unprotected during contact sports is a quick way to make sure you develop cracks. Instead, always use a mouth guard to protect both your natural teeth and restorations. It is important to choose a mouth guard that fits your teeth as best as possible. The better-fitting the mouth guard, the better that it will work to protect your teeth against damage. You can pick up a sports mouth guard at your local sporting goods store.
Hard Foods Should Be Eaten with Caution
While you do not want to have to limit the kinds of foods that you can eat, some foods are more detrimental to the health of your natural teeth and dental restorations. It is important to eat hard foods with caution. This means that you should limit your intake of the foods and avoid them as much as possible. A hard caramel candy can result in crack that you cannot see near your restoration. By the time you notice it, you may already be struggling with a dental infection caused by the small crack. Therefore, if you are still looking to satisfy your cravings, then look for the softer version of your favorite foods; this will save your restorations in the long run.
Craze lines can mean that your restoration will need to be treated with extreme care to avoid further damage. Therefore, use these tips to stay one step ahead and prevent craze lines from forming. Contact a dentist for more information.