Foods to Avoid Eating With Temporary Dental Crowns

Originally posted by livestrong.com
by GWEN BRUNO  Last Updated: Aug 14, 2017

Key Takeaways

• Temporary Cement is Temporary: Unlike permanent crowns, temporary crowns are secured with a light adhesive designed to release easily. Sticky, chewy, and highly elastic foods (like taffy, chewing gum, and caramels) can easily slide or pull the crown completely off the tooth.
• Bite Pressure Matters: Avoid biting down directly on hard or crunchy foods (such as raw carrots, hard nuts, ice, or thick bread crusts) on the side of your mouth with the temporary crown. Hard impacts are the leading cause of cracked or dislodged temporaries.
• Floss with Care: Keep the area around your temporary crown clean to protect sensitive gums, but never pull dental floss upward. Doing so can snag and pop the crown off. Always slide the floss out gently through the side.

A dental crown is like a form-fitting cap placed over a tooth; it can restore both the appearance and function of a damaged tooth. Your dentist will first prepare your tooth to be fitted with a crown, then take impressions of the tooth and adjacent teeth before fitting you with a temporary crown that covers and protects your prepared tooth. After a dental lab manufactures your permanent crown — a process which usually takes several weeks — your dentist will complete the crown fitting.

Foods to Avoid With a Temporary Dental Crown

Because temporary dental crowns are made from acrylic, which is less strong than the metal, ceramic or porcelain material of a permanent crown, you must take extra precautions. Limit the amount of chewing you do on the side of your mouth where your temporary crown is located. Avoid chewing on hard candies, nuts and very crunchy fresh vegetables such as carrots on the same side of the mouth as your temporary crown. Until your permanent crown is in place, don’t eat sticky desserts or candy, including caramels, licorice, jelly beans, taffy, toffee and gummy bears, as they could pull the temporary crown off your tooth. Avoid chewing gum for the same reason.

Hot Foods

Eating hot foods, such as coffee, soups or pizza, will do no damage to your temporary or permanent dental crown, but you may need to avoid them if you experience discomfort. Some individuals experience a mild-to-severe sensitivity in and around a crowned tooth when eating hot foods, particularly if they are affected with gum recession. If the problem persists, consult your dentist as the crown’s fit may require adjustment.

Cold Foods

You may need to avoid cold foods such as iced beverages or ice cream if you experience pain when eating them. Although they do not harm your crown, such foods can trigger sensitivity similar to that caused by hot foods if any part of your gum recedes enough to expose the root above a crowned tooth. Your dentist may suggest that you use a toothpaste made especially for sensitive teeth; such toothpastes work by blocking the sensation traveling from the tooth to the nerves.

Sugary Foods

Once your tooth is fitted with a permanent dental crown, it should need no special care and demand no special dietary restrictions, according to the Cleveland Clinic. However, the underlying tooth remains susceptible to decay and/or gum disease just as your regular teeth do. Avoid constant exposure to sugary drinks, candy or gum, keep snacking to a minimum, and brush or rinse your teeth after eating chewy or sticky foods such as dried fruit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Drink Coffee with a Temporary Dental Crown?

Many patients wonder if they can still enjoy their morning coffee while wearing a temporary crown. In most cases, yes—but it’s best to let any temporary dental cement fully set before drinking hot beverages, especially immediately after your appointment. Coffee won’t damage the temporary crown itself, but the heat may increase tooth sensitivity, particularly if the underlying tooth has been recently prepared. If you experience discomfort, try allowing your coffee to cool slightly or drinking it through the opposite side of your mouth until your permanent crown is placed.

Can I Eat Pizza with a Temporary Dental Crown?

Pizza is generally safe to eat with a temporary crown, but a few precautions can help prevent problems. Avoid biting directly into thick crusts, crispy edges, or chewy pizza with the temporary crown, as these foods can place excessive pressure on the restoration or potentially loosen it. It’s also wise to let fresh-from-the-oven pizza cool for a few minutes, since very hot foods may trigger temporary sensitivity. Cutting pizza into smaller pieces and chewing on the opposite side of your mouth can help protect your temporary crown until your permanent restoration is cemented in place.

What should I do if food (like popcorn or seeds) gets stuck in my gums near my temporary crown?

If food or debris gets trapped under or around your temporary crown, do not panic, and never use sharp metal objects or toothpicks to pry it out.

Tiny, sharp food fragments—like popcorn hulls, seeds, or husky grains—can slide under the gumline, leading to gum irritation, swelling, and localized discomfort.

To safely dislodge the trapped food:

Warm Saltwater Rinse: Swish gently with warm salt water to help soothe the sensitive gum tissue and naturally float the debris out from under the crown margin.

Gentle Flossing: Take a piece of dental floss, guide it gently between the teeth, and hug the natural tooth adjacent to the crown. Rather than snapping the floss upward (which can pull the temporary crown off), release one end of the string and pull it completely through the side of your teeth.