My dentist mentioned polishing once, but honestly, I've never bothered. Had my crown about 6 years now, and regular brushing with a soft toothbrush plus flossing seems to do the trick. I think you're right—sometimes simpler really is better. Maybe polishing is more for people who drink lots of coffee or tea? Either way, glad your daughter's crown is holding up well... playground accidents can be scary!
I've actually found polishing pretty helpful, even though I don't drink much coffee or tea. Had my crown about four years now, and while brushing and flossing definitely keep things clean, a quick polish every year or two seems to brighten it up noticeably. Could just be me being picky, but I swear it feels smoother afterward too... maybe placebo effect? Anyway, glad your daughter's doing okay—those playground tumbles are no joke.
I've noticed the same thing about polishing, actually. Had my crown for around six years now, and even though I don't drink coffee at all (tea occasionally, but not enough to stain), it still seems to lose a bit of its shine over time. I was skeptical at first—figured regular brushing and flossing would be enough—but after my dentist suggested a polish during one of my routine visits, I gave it a shot. Honestly, I was surprised by how much brighter and smoother it felt afterward. Could be partly psychological, sure... but hey, if it feels better, that's good enough reason for me.
Funny you mention playground tumbles—I remember when my grandson chipped his tooth on the monkey bars last summer. Poor kid was more upset about missing out on ice cream afterward than the actual tooth! Luckily, it wasn't serious and got sorted quickly. Kids bounce back so fast it's amazing.
Anyway, back to crowns—I've found that being gentle with toothpaste choice helps too. My dentist recommended avoiding overly abrasive whitening pastes because they can dull the surface over time. I've switched to something milder, and between that and an occasional polish every year or two, things have stayed pretty shiny.
Glad your daughter's doing okay after her fall—those moments can really give us grandparents (and parents!) a scare...
Glad you mentioned the toothpaste thing—I switched to a gentler one myself after noticing my crown getting duller. It really does seem to help keep things smoother between dentist visits. And you're right about polishing; even if it's partly psychological, feeling better about your smile counts for a lot. Glad your grandson's tooth wasn't too serious...kids really do amaze me with how quickly they bounce back from these things.
