I totally get where you’re coming from. When I got my first crown, I was super anxious too—like, every time I bit into something even remotely crunchy, I’d pause and wonder if I was about to crack it or make it pop off. For weeks, I basically chewed everything on the other side of my mouth and avoided caramel like it was radioactive.
But honestly, after a while you start to trust it a bit more. My dentist told me that crowns are tougher than they seem, but yeah... sticky stuff is still risky. Rinsing after snacks is a game changer though. The one thing I wish someone had told me sooner: flossing around the crown feels weird at first but gets easier. Just don’t yank the floss up—slide it out sideways.
I do think sometimes we’re made to be more paranoid than necessary, but hey, after what these things cost, a little caution doesn’t hurt. It’s kind of wild how much mental energy goes into protecting one tooth, right?
It’s kind of wild how much mental energy goes into protecting one tooth, right?
Honestly, this is so true. I swear, I spent months hyper-aware of every single thing I ate after getting my crown. I’m still way too careful, probably more than I should be. My dentist also said crowns are sturdy, but I just can’t bring myself to bite into anything hard on that side. I even cut apples into tiny pieces now—paranoid, maybe, but after what these things cost, I refuse to risk it.
One thing that’s helped me is using those little soft picks instead of regular floss at first. I know people say to “slide it out sideways”—and yeah, that’s important—but the picks just felt less scary until I got used to the area. And I totally agree about rinsing after snacks. I keep a little bottle in my bag just for that.
Not sure if it’s overkill, but I’d rather be a little neurotic than end up back in the chair paying for another crown. Maybe we do get a bit too anxious, but honestly, better safe than sorry when it comes to dental bills.
Maybe we do get a bit too anxious, but honestly, better safe than sorry when it comes to dental bills.
I get being careful, but I was so nervous about my crown at first that I avoided using that side for months. My new dentist actually encouraged me to treat it more like a normal tooth after the first couple weeks—said being too gentle can mess up your bite. Haven’t had any issues (knock on wood), and honestly, it feels way less stressful now. Maybe there’s a middle ground between paranoia and just forgetting about it?
Totally get where you're coming from. I babied my crown at first too—felt like it was made of glass or something. After a while, I just started treating it like the rest of my teeth (within reason… still not biting into jawbreakers). My orthodontist said the same about bite issues, so now I just chew normally, keep up with flossing, and try not to stress. Seems to be working so far. Guess there’s no need to be *too* precious about it.
You’re spot on—crowns aren’t as fragile as people think, but yeah, biting into jawbreakers is a hard pass. Ever notice how some folks baby their crowns so much they end up chewing weird and messing up their bite? I always tell people: treat it like a regular tooth, just skip the nutcrackers and popcorn kernels. Do you use a night guard? Grinding in your sleep is a sneaky crown killer… seen it too many times.
