Caring for zirconia crowns at home

Caring for zirconia crowns at home is not complicated, but it is different in one important way from looking after natural teeth. The crown itself is extremely hard-wearing. It will not decay and it resists staining. What can go wrong is underneath: the tooth the crown sits on, and the gum around it. Almost every long-term problem with crowns starts at the edge where crown meets tooth, close to the gum line. So most of good crown care is about keeping that edge clean.

This guide covers what to do in the first days after your crowns are fitted, a daily routine that works, how to clean under a bridge, what to avoid, and the simple checks you can do yourself between dental visits.

The first few days after fitting

It is normal for your bite to feel slightly different for a few days, and for your gums to be a little tender where they were handled during fitting. Some people notice sensitivity to hot or cold. This usually settles as the gums calm down.

• Brush gently but do brush, including along the gum line. Avoiding a sore area lets plaque build up and makes the gums worse.
• If your bite feels high on one side, or one tooth hits first when you close, tell us before you leave Antalya. Small adjustments are easy to make on the spot.
• Your tongue will explore the new shape for a while. This is normal and stops being noticeable within a week or two.

You will receive written aftercare instructions with your treatment, so you can check them once you are home.

A daily routine that works

The NHS recommends brushing twice a day for about two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste, and cleaning between the teeth. That advice applies just as much to crowned teeth, perhaps more.

1. Brush twice a day Use a soft or medium brush, manual or electric. Spend extra time on the gum line around each crown, tilting the bristles at about 45 degrees towards the gum.
2. Use fluoride toothpaste Fluoride strengthens the natural tooth at the crown edge and any exposed root. Spit out after brushing but do not rinse with water, so the fluoride stays on the teeth longer.
3. Clean between the teeth once a day Use interdental brushes in the size your dentist or hygienist recommends, or floss if the gaps are tight. Crowns are designed with natural contact points, so floss should pass through with a firm snap but not shred.
4. Look after your gums Bleeding when you clean is a sign that plaque is sitting at the gum line. Keep cleaning gently; healthy gums usually stop bleeding within a week or two of good care.

Cleaning under a bridge

A bridge is a set of joined crowns that replaces a missing tooth by attaching to the teeth either side. The false tooth in the middle, called the pontic, sits on the gum. Food and plaque collect underneath it, and a toothbrush cannot reach. If this area is not cleaned, the gums under the bridge become inflamed and the supporting teeth at each end are at risk of decay.

There are three practical ways to clean under a bridge. Most people settle on one.

If you have trouble with your hands, the water flosser is often the easiest. It does not replace brushing, but it makes the area under a bridge much simpler to keep clean. The Oral Health Foundation has helpful guidance on cleaning between teeth, including choosing the right size of interdental brush.

What to avoid

Zirconia is one of the strongest materials used for crowns, which is why it is popular for back teeth and for people with a heavy bite. Strong does not mean indestructible, and the natural tooth and cement under the crown have limits.

• Using teeth as tools. Opening packets, cutting tape, cracking nuts, biting fingernails or holding pins in your teeth all put sudden sideways force on crowns.
• Very hard foods on front crowns. Biting straight into a hard apple or a crusty baguette with front teeth is usually fine for zirconia, but cutting food into pieces is kinder to front crowns and the teeth beside them.
• Chewing ice and hard boiled sweets. These are a common cause of chips in natural teeth and in any crown material.
• Sticky toffees. These can, rarely, pull on a crown. If a crown ever feels loose, contact a dentist promptly rather than waiting.
• Constant sugary snacking. Sugar feeds the bacteria that cause decay at the crown edge. Keep sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes.
• Smoking. Smoking raises the risk of gum disease, which is one of the main reasons crowned teeth are lost over time.

Grinding and clenching

Many people grind or clench their teeth without knowing, often at night. The NHS lists signs such as jaw pain, headaches, worn teeth and a partner hearing grinding at night. Grinding puts very high forces on crowns and on the teeth opposite them. Zirconia is tough, but grinding can still chip a crown, loosen it, or wear down the natural teeth it bites against.

If your dentist sees signs of grinding, you will be advised to wear a night guard, a thin plastic cover worn over the teeth while you sleep. Please take this seriously. Our written guarantee on crowns runs for five years, and it can be reduced or void if a grinder does not wear the night guard. Our guarantee page explains all the conditions.

Whitening and colour

Whitening gel changes the colour of natural teeth, not crowns. If you whiten your teeth after your crowns are made, the natural teeth get lighter and the crowns stay the same, so they may stop matching. If you are thinking about teeth whitening, the right time is before your crowns are made. The shade can then be matched to your new, lighter natural teeth.

Zirconia resists staining well. If your crowns look dull, it is usually a surface film from tea, coffee or red wine, which a normal professional clean removes. Avoid very abrasive “whitening” toothpastes, as they will not lighten the crown and may wear any exposed root surface.

Simple checks you can do at home

Once a month or so, take a minute in good light with a mirror:

• Look at the gum around each crown. It should be pale pink and firm, not red, puffy or shiny.
• Notice whether the gum bleeds when you clean. Occasional bleeding means more care is needed in that spot. Persistent bleeding needs a dental check.
• Run your tongue along the edges. A new rough spot or a step you can feel may be a chip or a gap worth having checked.
• Pay attention to your bite. If a crown suddenly feels high, loose or different, contact a dentist.
• Watch for sensitivity or a dull ache around a crowned tooth that does not go away. That can mean a problem underneath that needs an X-ray.

Regular check-ups at home in the UK

Keep seeing your dentist at home for check-ups and hygiene visits at whatever interval they recommend. They can spot early decay at a crown edge or early gum disease long before you would notice it. If you need an X-ray of a crowned tooth, ask for a copy. You can send it to us at any time, and we keep copies of the X-rays and scans from your treatment for comparison.

Missed check-ups are one of the conditions that can reduce our guarantee, because so many problems can be caught early with simple care. That is not a trick. It is the honest reason crowns either last or do not.

When to get in touch with us

Message us if a crown comes loose, chips, feels high, or if you have pain or swelling around a crowned tooth. Send a photo and, if you can, a recent X-ray from your local dentist. Guarantee work is carried out in Antalya; you pay your own flights and we provide the hotel for the treatment period. Many questions, though, can be answered by message alone.

For background on the crowns themselves, see our zirconia crowns page. If your gums have been a concern, our guide on gum disease treatment before crowns explains why gum health matters so much.

Planning crowns, or have a question about yours?

If you are considering zirconia crowns, send us your photos or a recent X-ray and a dentist will prepare a written plan and itemised price, with no payment needed to receive it. Our published price is £150 per tooth. Use the contact form or message us on WhatsApp.

Common questions

Can a zirconia crown get decay?

The zirconia itself cannot decay, but the natural tooth underneath can, especially at the edge where the crown meets the tooth near the gum. That is why cleaning along the gum line matters so much.

What toothpaste should I use on zirconia crowns?

A normal fluoride toothpaste is fine. Fluoride protects the natural tooth at the crown edge. Very abrasive whitening pastes are best avoided, as they do not whiten crowns and can wear exposed root surfaces.

How do I clean under a zirconia bridge?

Use a floss threader or bridge floss to pass floss under the false tooth, or a small interdental brush or water flosser. Clean under the bridge once a day.

Can zirconia crowns be whitened?

No. Whitening gel does not change the colour of zirconia or porcelain. If you want whiter teeth, whiten your natural teeth before your crowns are made so the shade can be matched.

Do I need a night guard?

If you grind or clench your teeth, yes. Our written guarantee can be reduced or void if grinders do not wear their night guard. Your dentist will tell you if you show signs of grinding.

Sources

1. NHS: How to keep your teeth clean
2. Oral Health Foundation: Cleaning between your teeth
3. Oral Health Foundation: Crowns
4. NHS: Teeth grinding (bruxism)

Checked October 2026. Where we give our own view as a clinic, we say so.