If you've just had a temporary crown added to one or more teeth, you're no doubt happy to see a nicely shaped crown in its place and are eager to have the permanent crown installed quickly. However, until the permanent crown is ready, you have to take care of that temporary crown. One of the issues with having temporary structures in your mouth is that they are not as tough as the final crowns, so more of what you might do normally can damage the structure. As you wait for your appointment to get your permanent crowns, be extra careful to ensure you don't ruin your dental work.

Watch out How You Handle That Floss

Flossing is a big deal when you have temporary crowns because those crowns don't quite touch the gum line, creating a space in which food can get caught easily. But you have to change how you floss, or you risk popping the crown out of your mouth. When you lower the floss in between your teeth, do that the same way you always do, but when it's time to remove the floss, pull it out from between the teeth, rather than lifting it back up between the teeth. If you lift it up, you could pull the crown with it.

Another Reason to Avoid Chewing Ice

As if you didn't already have enough reasons to stop chewing on ice cubes, now you have another. Cold ice can make the crown material extra sensitive and fragile. So if you were to chew an ice cube, not only would you be chewing something so hard that it could crack the crown, you'd also be chewing something so cold that it could make the crown material more prone to cracking.

Add in Mouthwash

If you don't already use mouthwash, start. The extra liquid can both help soothe your gums and wash out any food that the floss didn't get. If you don't want to mess with actual commercial mouthwash for whatever reason, try warm saltwater, though keep the salt level mild.

Stay Away From Seeds

Watch what you eat -- anything with seeds, grainy bits, or other small, hard bits can get caught between the crown and your gum line. While these could technically be flossed out, sometimes they can get wedged in there rather well, requiring an additional trip to the dentist for removal.

Temporary crowns are just that, temporary, so soon you'll have your permanent crowns and be able to eat those seeds and other foods. But talk to your dentist about caring for the permanent dental crowns, too, because you want those to last as long as possible.