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Everyone hates teeth discoloration, which is why whitening strips are so popular. But what do you do when the discoloration appears in the form of white spots on your teeth? Although these spots are primarily a cosmetic concern, they can affect oral health and should be treated.

Causes

White discoloration on teeth, more common yet less discussed, are due to the demineralization and loss of enamel on the tooth. Common causes of demineralization include poor brushing habits and poor diet choices. White spots (or hypoplasia) can form in children if there is disruption in enamel formation, or if you use too much fluoride toothpaste.
When these unsightly white spots appear in adults, they are often the sign of tooth decay and plaque formation. When plaque builds up, bacteria forms that leads to demineralization, the first step in tooth decay. This can be common when braces are taken off, as plaque often builds in hard-to-reach places underneath braces (white spots are often more common in orthodontic patients).

Preventing White Discoloration

While treatments for these white spots are available (we’ll discuss these later), prevention is also possible. Here are a few easy steps you can take to prevent white spots from appearing on your teeth!

1. Brushing well! Nothing prevents demineralization and plaque buildup better than brushing thoroughly two times a day.
2. Flossing every night. Flossing can also help drastically reduce plaque buildup and therefore reduce those unappealing white spots!
3. Less soda, more water.  Soda causes acidic buildup, which demineralizes your teeth faster. Drink more water to help prevent this.
4. Eat healthy, snack less. Choosing foods that contain less sugar (and therefore less demineralizing bacteria) that break down calcium in the teeth will help prevent decalcification and the formation of white spots. Consider mineral and calcium rich foods, such as milk and cheese. Also, try to eat foods high in magnesium, as this mineral helps your body absorb and retain calcium.

Treating White Spots

Especially in orthodontic cases, white spots that form may need to be treated, despite preventive measures that were taken. Here are some of the best treatments for white spots on your teeth.

1. Bleaching your teeth. Dentists can professionally assess the damage and bleach your teeth to make these spots less visible, as well as seal enamel in order to strengthen your teeth again. At Water Tower Dental Care, we use Zoom! Teeth Whitening to bleach teeth in under an hour!
2. Composite bonding. In this procedure, resin is molded onto your teeth, helping to conceal white spots and giving you a straighter, whiter smile.
3. Air or microabrasion.  Consider techniques in which your dentist can remove spots by scuffing the area with abrasive material. These techniques should only be used for small to medium white spots, as too much abrasion can further damage your teeth.
4. Topical Remineralization Therapy. These prescription toothpaste and gel treatments help remineralize your teeth faster by treating the microscopic holes causing the white spots. The photo above and to the right shows a patient of ours before and after enamel remineralization therapy.

In all, white spots are undesirable to most. While prevention is ideal, treatment is often necessary. Luckily, Water Tower Dental Care can help with this white discoloration treatment to get your teeth sparkling white again!

When it comes to your social and professional life, teeth can make a big difference. That’s why we’re focused on making your smile as beautiful as possible. Over the years, we’ve become known as the top cosmetic dentistry in Chicago for our work on pearly whites. Here are a few of our most popular teeth treatments in Water Tower Place, Chicago and why so many people love them.

Invisalign Clear Braces

Traditional braces are so five years ago. But really, why wear annoying, obtrusive and unattractive traditional braces when you can wear invisible braces? Invisalign has become one of our most popular dental treatments because of how easy and transparent it is. Just like traditional braces, Invisalign straightens out your teeth over time. But it does this with clear aligners that can easily be removed whenever you’d like. Learn how Invisalign can fix your underbite too! Take a look at our before and after Invisalign photos here.

Teeth Whitening

There’s a reason most celebrities have shiny white teeth. Whether it makes sense or not, pearly whites make you look young, healthy and successful. We have a ton of patients come through our offices for Zoom! Teeth Whitening because it can make your teeth up to ten shades whiter after just one single one-hour treatment. Fast, effective and long lasting, you can’t beat Zoom! when it comes to teeth whitening. We also offer take home teeth whitening trays if you prefer your couch to the dental chair.
[caption id="attachment_2288" align="aligncenter" width="604"] A Water Tower Dental Care patient before and after Invisalign, teeth whitening and dental veneers.[/caption]

Dental Veneers

Mask your teeth imperfections with dental veneers! Veneers are so popular because they successfully cover up a variety of different teeth problems, including stains, odd shapes, chips, big spaces, and crooked teeth. Whether Mother Nature didn’t give you the teeth of your dreams, or injury or age has left you with teeth you don’t recognize, veneers can be carefully placed onto your teeth to perfect issues. Check out our before and after porcelain veneers photo gallery!
Carefully designed for your mouth, more permanent porcelain veneers are best for severe dental issues, while minimal prep veneers are the better choice for those who have smaller problems and/or less time. Find out which type of veneer is best for you here.

CEREC One Visit Crowns

Traditionally, it took at least two visits and countless hours to fit, create and place dental crowns. With CEREC One Visit Crown technology, crowns can be perfectly customized and placed to match your teeth in just one hour. You can see why this treatment has become one of our most popular. Take a look at Water Tower Dental patients before and after CEREC One Visit Crowns. Learn more about fixing a broken tooth with CEREC One Visit Crowns here!
These are our most popular cosmetic dental treatments for a reason: they make your smile look better than ever while saving you time! Contact us to learn more about the treatments our office in Water Tower Place, Chicago offers.

Finding a strange change in your mouth can be scary. You might not know why a mark has appeared, how long it will be there, or what it is. Since it could be a variety of different things, ranging from harmless to more serious, it’s important to visit a dentist or doctor when you find an unfamiliar sore or spot in your mouth.
In the meantime, you might want to get a better idea of two common but very different types of oral issues that often get confused: mouth cancer and canker sores. Today, our dentists are going to break down the difference between mouth cancer and canker sores so that you can better identify what’s going on in your mouth.

What Mouth Cancer Looks Like

Surprising to many, mouth cancer can grow in your mouth just like it can anywhere else in your body. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), those who use tobacco and/or drink are more likely to develop mouth cancer, as are people over the age of 44 and, more specifically, men. HPV is also the leading cause of cancer at the very back of the mouth and throat (technically known as oropharyngeal cancer).
Mouth cancer typically affects your cheeks, lips, tongue, or throat. It usually shows up as flat, white patches on any of those areas. These patches are made up of cells that can lead to cancer. Mixed red and white patches and bright red patches are also signs of trouble.
Mouth cancer patches can be rough and hard to scrape off. These areas can also be benign, but it’s always important to have a dentist check to make sure.
Mouthcancer.org also notes that painless ulcers, or canker sores, that don’t heal can be a form of mouth cancer.  The ADA suggests getting your mouth checked out if signs and symptoms of mouth cancer persist after two weeks.
Finally, cancer in the throat may cause symptoms such as difficult or painful swallowing, a swollen but painless tonsil, an ongoing sore throat or hoarse voice, a painless lump on the outside of your neck that has been there for at least two weeks, and constant coughing, according to the Oral Cancer Foundation.

What Canker Sores Look Like

Unlike mouth cancer, minor canker sores are virtually harmless, except for the annoying discomfort they can cause your mouth. They may be caused by several things, including stress, hormonal shifts, food sensitivities, and toothpaste, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The defining difference between canker sores and mouth cancer is pain. Canker sores can be extremely painful. Thankfully, the pain tends to lessen over a few days, and the sore usually heals up by itself within two weeks.
Canker sores also look different than patchy mouth cancer. A canker sore looks like an ulcer or sore. They are typically round with a depressed center and may appear to be white, grey or yellow. The outer rim of the canker sore is typically red.
If you have a canker sore that doesn’t heal within three weeks, you should see a dentist, according to DentalHealth.org. Mouth cancer can appear in the form of an ulcer.
Do you have a sore you would like us to take a look at in Chicago? Contact Water Tower Dental Care! We’re experts on identifying mouth cancer vs. canker sores.

When it comes to food, there’s really no end to deliciousness in Chicago. From world famous pizza to the Puerto Rican-inspired jibarito, regional specialties have prospered in the Windy City. This week, we’re going to take a look at Chicago’s three most iconic foods and see how good they are for your teeth. Let’s do this.

Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza

The most envied and renowned of all Chicago’s food offerings is by far its treasured deep dish pizza. In Chicago, pizza isn’t some sort of snack or late-night afterthought. It’s a hearty meal baked in a deep pan and piled with gooey cheese, rich tomato sauce and other delicious ingredients.
But is it good for your teeth? Yes and no. Cheese is one of your teeth’s best friends, providing your pearly whites with calcium, phosphates and vitamin D. These minerals help reduce your risk of tooth decay, guard your teeth from acid and help your enamel stabilize and repair itself.
The bad news for your teeth comes in the form of tomato sauce. Tomatoes are highly acidic. If you eat pizza too often or you let pizza sit in your mouth for a while, the acids from the tomatoes can start breaking down your enamel. The starch in pizza can also be easily converted to enamel-eroding sugars.
Conclusion: Though Chicago’s pizza has a bunch of tooth-loving cheese in it, it also has lots of starch and tomato sauce. It’s not the worst food for your teeth, but it’s definitely not the best. Thankfully, your teeth will be just fine as long as long as you eat pizza in moderation.

Chicago-Style Hot Dogs

Unlike most of the United States, it’s a cardinal sin to put ketchup on a hot dog in Chicago. The typical Chicago-style hot dog is made up an all-beef hot dog, steamed poppy seed bun, yellow mustard, tomato wedges, hot peppers, a pickle spear, chopped onions, celery salt, and relish. We like to call it a little piece of heaven.
So now let’s break it down into the good and bad for your mouth. The all-beef hot dog is all-good for your teeth. Meats are packed with phosphorus, a mineral that helps to keep your enamel protected. It also has calcium, which we know is great for our teeth. Unfortunately, the starchy bun contains sugars that will attack your enamel, and pickles are one of the worst foods for your teeth.
Conclusion: If you cut out some of the hot dog toppings that are bad for your teeth, like pickles, pickled relish and tomato wedges, you’ll have a dog that’s actually pretty good for your mouth. Some Chicagoans may call this a sin, but we call it a toothy upgrade.

Italian Beef

In Chicago, there’s nothing juicier than Italian beef. It doesn’t get better than sandwiches packed with thin slices of roast beef on top of an Italian-style roll dripping with meat juices. You might top the sandwich off with Chicago-style giardiniera (Italian-American relish) or friggitello.
Again, the phosphorus beef is great for your teeth. But if the giardiniera or friggitello is pickled in vinegar, it’s not so good for your teeth. The acids from the vinegar will aggressively eat away at your enamel if you eat too many pickled veggies or fruits.
Conclusion: Knock off the pickled toppings and you’ve got a Chicago-style food item that’s pretty good for your teeth! Since Italian beef is mostly made up of lots and lots of beef, and beef is tooth-friendly, your teeth will happily munch on this one.

Final Thoughts

We’ll have to give the title of “worst Chicago-style food for your teeth” to Chicago-style hot dogs. The starchy bun and official toppings won’t make your pearly whites any healthier. However, as long as you don’t eat a dog a day and practice proper oral hygiene, your teeth will be just fine. Munching on these Chicago delights every once in awhile won’t do your teeth any significant harm.