How should you brush a zirconia crown?
Zirconia itself cannot decay, but the tooth underneath and the gum around it are living tissue. The University Dental Hospital of Manchester (Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust) points out that the gum around crowns is very sensitive to plaque build-up, so oral hygiene needs to be meticulous. Plaque collects most easily at the margin, where the crown meets the gum.
- How often: the NHS advises brushing twice a day for about 2 minutes, last thing at night and at one other time.
- Brush angle: MouthHealthy, the American Dental Association’s (ADA) patient site, recommends a soft-bristled brush held at a 45-degree angle to the gums, moved gently back and forth in short, tooth-wide strokes. On a crowned tooth, this angle brings the bristles onto the crown margin and the gum line.
- Spit, don’t rinse: the NHS advises spitting out excess toothpaste rather than rinsing straight away, so that fluoride stays on the teeth.
How do you clean between crowns and under a bridge?
A toothbrush does not reach the surfaces where teeth touch. The NHS says you can use floss, or interdental brushes instead of floss; the brush should fit snugly between the teeth. It advises against wooden toothpicks, which can damage the gums.
Under a bridge, the false tooth (pontic) sits on the gum and plaque can gather beneath it:
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust advises sweeping the floss under the false tooth along the gum line; your dentist or hygienist can show you how.
- Cleveland Clinic recommends cleaning underneath a bridge every day with floss threaders or interdental brushes.
| Aid | Where it helps |
|---|---|
| Floss | Tight contacts and the sides of a crown |
| Interdental brush | Wider gaps and the sides of bridge supports |
| Floss threader | Getting floss under a bridge |
| Water flosser | Extra cleaning where a brush is hard to use |
A 2019 Cochrane review found that floss used with toothbrushing may reduce gum inflammation, that interdental brushes may reduce it more than floss at one and three months, and that oral irrigators may do better than floss in the short term. It rated the evidence low to very low certainty. If your crowns sit on implants, see caring for teeth on implants.
Which toothpaste should you use, and can abrasive toothpaste harm zirconia?
Fluoride matters for the natural tooth at the crown margin rather than for the zirconia. According to the ADA, fluoride strengthens teeth and helps prevent decay. The NHS recommends that adults use a toothpaste with at least 1,350 ppm fluoride, and Cleveland Clinic recommends a non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste for bridges.
Laboratory research partly answers the worry about abrasive toothpaste. In a 2019 study by Lee and colleagues in the journal Materials, monolithic zirconia samples were brushed with different toothpastes for the equivalent of about 17 years:
- the change in colour stayed within clinically acceptable limits
- the glaze layer on glazed samples wore slightly with every toothpaste
- a highly abrasive whitening toothpaste did not roughen polished zirconia
A laboratory study cannot reproduce saliva or chewing. Whitening toothpastes, the ADA explains, remove surface stains with abrasives, while the NHS notes that whitening only lightens natural teeth, so they will not make a crown whiter. An ordinary fluoride toothpaste is enough.
What should you avoid eating or doing with zirconia crowns?
Most people can eat normally with crowns. Cleveland Clinic advises avoiding foods that can damage a crown or pull it off:
- ice cubes
- extremely hard nuts
- unpopped popcorn kernels
- very sticky sweets such as toffee and caramel
Habits matter as much as food. Cleveland Clinic advises people with bridges not to chew ice, pens, pencils or fingernails. MouthHealthy notes that chewing ice usually breaks the ice but sometimes a tooth or filling, and that teeth should not stand in for scissors or hold things when your hands are full – so do not open packets or crack shells with a crowned tooth.
If you grind or clench your teeth, Cleveland Clinic suggests asking your dentist about a custom mouth guard, and MouthHealthy says a night-time guard can help. Whether you need one is assessed at the examination; if you do, ask whether it should be arranged before you fly home or by your dentist at home.
Do zirconia crowns stain with tea, coffee or smoking?
The NHS lists regular coffee, tea and red wine, and smoking, among the causes of stained teeth. For zirconia, the data come from laboratory studies. In a 2024 study by Gheytasi and colleagues, glazed monolithic zirconia soaked in tea daily for 24 days changed colour measurably, but within a clinically acceptable range; the authors call for further studies.
The more common issue is that the natural teeth beside a crown change colour while the crown does not. The NHS says whitening only lightens natural teeth, and the Manchester leaflet notes that bleaching does not affect the porcelain on crowns. Whitening after crowns are fitted can therefore leave a visible difference, which is why it is usually done before the shade of the crown is chosen.
Who looks after your crowns once you are home?
The General Dental Council advises speaking to your own dentist before travelling for treatment, as they need to know your plans in case of later complications. In the UK, the Manchester leaflet expects ongoing maintenance of crowns and bridges to be provided by the patient’s general dental practitioner, and Cleveland Clinic lists regular cleanings and examinations as part of crown care.
- Before you leave: you receive a copy of your treatment summary and copies of your X-rays. Ask which materials were used for your crowns, too.
- At home: book a check-up with your local dentist and take these records with you. Routine check-ups, cleaning and minor adjustments can usually be done there.
- If something changes: send clear photos and a short description on WhatsApp. Discuss the next steps with us before major work is redone elsewhere, as this can affect follow-up arrangements.
More about follow-up is on our aftercare and follow-up page.
What should you do if a crown comes off?
Cleveland Clinic lists a loose crown as a reason to call your dentist. If a crown comes off completely:
- Keep it. NHS 111 Wales advises keeping a crown that has come off safe and taking it to the dentist; a small closed container works well.
- Do not try to glue it back yourself.
- At home, see a local dentist and send us photos on WhatsApp; while you are still in Türkiye, contact the clinic.
Temporary crowns, worn during your stay while the final crowns are made, are weaker. Cleveland Clinic’s list of foods to avoid applies to temporary crowns as well. Tips for flossing around them are in how many visits zirconia crowns take.
How is aftercare planned at Rönesans?
Prosthetics and aesthetic dentistry are among our clinic’s branches. Crowns are made with CAD/CAM at the dental laboratory we work with, and the fit, bite and shade are checked before they are cemented. Follow-up after treatment follows a defined process, and whether you need a night guard and which cleaning aids suit your mouth are assessed at the examination.
Our treatments come with a conditional warranty for problems not caused by the patient; before treatment starts, we explain at your examination how long it lasts, what it covers and what it does not. If a problem covered by the warranty means you need to come back to the clinic, we cover your travel costs.
We are open Monday to Friday 10:00–22:00 and Saturday 10:00–19:00, Türkiye time. Send photos on WhatsApp at +90 532 363 49 54, call +90 264 606 09 43 or use our contact page; during opening hours we reply in English and German within 15 minutes. The treatment itself is described on our zirconia crowns page.