At your latest dental appointment, your dentist asked you which country you want to be ruler of, because you are going to need a crown. He has already drilled the decay from your tooth and must put a temporary crown on while a custom crown is made for you.

You will have to go roughly three weeks with a temporary crown while you wait for the permanent one to be made.

The temporary crown is made from acrylic plastic and is not made to last. It can break if you put too much force on it, so you will need to change your diet. 

The Fork Test

The best rule of thumb to follow when choosing which foods to eat is the fork test. If you can cut a certain food with your fork then it is soft enough to chew. Hard foods can cause weaken your temporary crown and eventually cause it to break. Don't think that just because you were able to eat almonds without the crown breaking that you can eat them every day.

Could you use a fork to cut a deli sandwich or a slice of pizza? Bread does not seem like it would be a hard food, but some varieties are.

Naturally, you can eat hard foods on the other side of your mouth. However, eating is a mindless habit, so it is better if you avoid foods like hard raw veggies, nuts, and hard candies during your wait.

Don't Unstick the Crown

Your temporary crown is attached with temporary cement. It is made to come off. You want to make sure that you don't eat anything that will stick to the crown and pull it off. That means you need to stop eating sticky candy like taffy, jelly beans, licorice, caramels, gummies, toffee, and chewing gum.

Chewy foods, such as steak and rice, should also be avoided or carefully eaten so that the crown stays where it should.

Sensitivity is Not a Bad Thing

Your tooth is going to be pretty sensitive for the next three weeks while you wait for your permanent crown. You may feel an uncomfortable sensation when you consume hot foods like coffee or soup. Cold foods like ice cream or iced drinks can also cause pain and sensitivity. Hot or cold foods are not going to cause damage to your temporary crown. Simply change the temperature of the food and drink until it is more comfortable for you.     

For further assistance, contact a local dentist, such as Michael J Tisdelle DDS.