This article was co-authored by Alina Lane, DDS. Dr. Alina Lane is a Dentist who runs All Smiles Dentistry, a general practice dental office based in New York City. After completing a DDS at the University of Maryland, Dr. Lane completed a year-long clerkship in Implantology at the University of Maryland, where she focused on the advanced restoration of dental implants. She continued her advanced education by completing a General Practice Residency at Woodhull Medical Center, an affiliate of the NYU School of Medicine. She received the Woodhull Medical Center Resident of the Year 2012-2013.
There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Gold is a popular metal used for fillings and crowns. Gold is also popular for fake, removable teeth and grills. Taking care of gold teeth is just as important as taking care of your natural teeth. If you have a permanent gold tooth, filling, or crown, clean it just like your natural teeth. If you have a removable gold tooth or a grill, make sure to clean it every day with a mild cleanser and warm water and polish it with a soft cloth to keep its luster.
Steps
Cleaning Permanent Gold Teeth
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1Brush a permanent gold tooth like a natural tooth. Gold teeth are simple to clean, and can be cleaned just like the rest of your teeth.[1] Use toothpaste and brush your teeth with a toothbrush.
- Make sure to brush your teeth twice each day.
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2Floss regularly. Make sure you are flossing around your gold tooth just like the rest of your natural teeth. Though gold teeth help reduce wear on adjacent teeth and slow tooth decay to the underlying tooth,[2] they still need to be taken care of. Make sure to floss around your tooth while flossing the rest of your teeth.
- You should floss at least once a day.[3]
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3Know whitening agents won’t affect gold teeth. If you are interested in using tooth whitening strips or toothpaste, be aware that it won’t affect gold teeth. The compounds in the whitening agent won’t change the color of the gold as it whitens your natural teeth.[4]
- Most whitening strips are made with hydrogen peroxide, and they work by removing the top salivary layer from your teeth. The hydrogen peroxide then lifts the stain away, and the salivary layer is replenished over the next few days.[5]
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4Schedule cleanings with your dentist. Gold teeth should be maintained just like regular teeth or other crowns and fillings. This means you should continue scheduling regular oral checkups with your dentist.
- During an oral checkup, your dentist will clean your teeth, including your gold tooth or crown. They will also look for any problems, like gingivitis or periodontal disease.
Taking Care of Removable Gold Teeth
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1Clean a removable tooth with cleaner. If you have a removable gold tooth, you should clean it daily. You should do this with a non-abrasive cleaner. After cleaning it, you should rinse the tooth with warm water and pat dry.[6]
- Talk to your dentist about the proper cleaner. You can buy cleansers specifically designed for cleaning gold teeth online.
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2Use a cloth to polish your tooth. After you have cleaned your tooth, make sure you pat it dry. Then, use a soft cloth to polish your tooth before placing it back in your mouth. This helps the tooth retain its shine and luster.
- Try a soft cotton microfiber cloth.
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3Quit smoking. If you have gold teeth, you should quit smoking. Smoking will tarnish your gold tooth and cause it to lose its shine.[7] If you don’t want to quit smoking, then you should choose a higher-quality gold for your tooth.
- For example, you should choose 18 or 24 karat gold if you want to continue smoking. It won’t tarnish as quickly as lower quality.
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4Refrain from using gold jewelry cleaners. Though you may think that cleaning your solid gold or gold-plated teeth with jewelry cleaner is a good idea, it is not. Jewelry cleaners are toxic when ingested. This means you should never clean your gold teeth with jewelry cleaners.[8]
- Additionally, you should never use gold polish on gold teeth.
Maintaining Your Gold Grill
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1Clean your grill daily. If you wear a removable grill, you should remove it each day to clean it. Brush the grill with toothpaste to clean it and remove any debris. Rinse it with warm water. Then, between uses, place the grill in antiseptic mouthwash to sanitize it. [9]
- Cleaning it each day removes bacteria that can accumulate in the grill, along with removing remnants of leftover food.
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2Wash your grill with soap and water. Another way to clean your grill is to use mild dishwashing liquid. Remove your grill and soak it in a bowl of warm water mixed with dishwashing liquid. Let it soak for about an hour or two, and then let it air dry.
- You can also pat it dry.
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3Limit how long you wear a grill. Grills are removable gold-plated covers you snap over your teeth. Make sure that you don’t wear your grill all the time. Food and bacteria can get trapped beneath the grill, and if you wear it for extended periods of time, it can lead to tooth and gum decay.[10]
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4Remove your grill when eating. To keep your grill and teeth clean and healthy, remove your grill before eating. Eating while wearing a grill can cause food to get trapped beneath the grill, leading to the growth of bacteria and tooth decay.[11]
- Food caught under the grill can also injure your sensitive gum tissue.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionShould I clean a gold tooth any differently than my regular teeth?
Alina Lane, DDSDr. Alina Lane is a Dentist who runs All Smiles Dentistry, a general practice dental office based in New York City. After completing a DDS at the University of Maryland, Dr. Lane completed a year-long clerkship in Implantology at the University of Maryland, where she focused on the advanced restoration of dental implants. She continued her advanced education by completing a General Practice Residency at Woodhull Medical Center, an affiliate of the NYU School of Medicine. She received the Woodhull Medical Center Resident of the Year 2012-2013.
Board Certified DentistA gold tooth is a dental crown, You'll clean the crown in much the same manner as you would your natural tooth.
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References
- ↑ Alina Lane, DDS. Board Certified Dentist. Expert Interview. 21 April 2020.
- ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285573692_The_use_of_gold_and_gold_alloys_in_prosthetic_dentistry_-_A_literature_review
- ↑ https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/f/flossing%20steps
- ↑ http://copublications.greenfacts.org/copublications/en/tooth-whiteners/l-2/5-tooth-whitening-products.htm#4
- ↑ Alina Lane, DDS. Board Certified Dentist. Expert Interview. 21 April 2020.
- ↑ https://thejcdp.com/doi/JCDP/pdf/10.5005/jcdp-7-1-25
- ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/7408415_The_Effect_of_Cigarette_Smoking_on_Dental_Implants_and_Related_Surgery
- ↑ http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/g/grills
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh_LFyslygM
About This Article
Cleaning permanent gold teeth doesn’t require anything special. Just brush and floss them like you do for your other teeth. If you have removable gold teeth, clean these daily with a cleaner designed for gold teeth. After you’ve cleaned your gold teeth, use a microfiber cloth to polish them. Never use jewelry cleaners or gold polish on your gold teeth, since these are toxic if ingested. If you have a gold grill for your teeth, just clean it daily with toothpaste or soapy water. Avoid wearing your grill all the time, since it can trap bacteria between your teeth and cause tooth decay. For more tips, including how to avoid tarnishing your gold teeth with smoke, read on!
Medical Disclaimer
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
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