Signs You Need a Dental Cleaning

At Water Tower Dental Care, our team believes that a healthy smile is the absolute foundation of a confident and vibrant life. Located in the Water Tower Place building on the Magnificent Mile, our office is designed to offer a luxurious escape from the city bustle while prioritizing your oral health. Dr. Daniel Aneszko, Dr. Rana Stino, and Dr. Jennifer Moran are dedicated to providing personalized general dentistry in a refined environment, ensuring you are treated like family rather than just another patient chart.

While daily brushing and flossing are non-negotiable for maintaining oral hygiene, they cannot remove every trace of bacteria or hardened tartar that accumulates over time. Professional care is essential to keep your smile bright and your body healthy. If you aren’t sure if you are due for a visit, there are specific indicators your mouth will give you. If you notice any of the following signs, please call our Chicago dentist’s office near you at (312) 787-2131 to schedule a visit.

1. Your Gums Bleed When You Floss

One of the most common warning signs that you need professional attention is bleeding gums. While many people brush this off as simply brushing too hard or using a new type of floss, it is often an early indicator of gingivitis. When plaque accumulates along the gum line, it irritates the soft tissue, causing inflammation and bleeding during your home care routine.

Ignoring these symptoms can lead to more severe issues down the road, including periodontal disease. Our team specializes in gum disease therapy to arrest infection and restore your gum health before it impacts the bone structure supporting your teeth. Healthy gums should be firm and pink, not red, swollen, or prone to bleeding.

2. You Have Persistent Bad Breath

We all experience “morning breath” or the aftereffects of a garlic-heavy meal. However, if you have bad breath (halitosis) that lingers even after you brush, floss, and rinse, it is likely a sign of underlying bacteria trapped deep in your mouth. Plaque buildup, decaying food particles, and early-stage gum disease produce sulfur compounds that result in unpleasant odors that home care cannot resolve.

• Mouthwash isn’t a cure: It often only masks the odor temporarily without removing the source.
• Deep cleaning is required: Professional instruments are needed to remove the bacteria causing the smell.

If you are feeling self-conscious about your breath, don’t rely on mints to solve the problem. Call our Chicago, IL office today at (312) 787-2131 to address the root cause and restore your freshness.

3. Your Teeth Feel “Fuzzy”

Run your tongue across your teeth right now. Do they feel smooth and glass-like, or do they feel rough and fuzzy? That fuzzy texture is plaque—a sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth constantly. If left on the teeth, plaque hardens into tartar (calculus), which is a calcified substance that is impossible to remove with a regular toothbrush or floss.

Tartar acts as a shield for bacteria, allowing them to thrive and attack your enamel. A professional dental cleaning at Water Tower Dental Care uses specialized tools to scale away this hardened buildup, leaving your teeth smooth, clean, and bacteria-free.

4. Your Smile Looks Dull or Discolored

Over time, dietary habits can take a significant toll on the brightness of your smile. Coffee, tea, red wine, dark berries, and dark sodas can leave stains that settle into the enamel. While surface stains can sometimes be reduced at home, a professional cleaning includes polishing that removes external stains far more effectively than standard brushing.

If a standard cleaning doesn’t restore the brilliance you desire, we can discuss cosmetic dentistry options. We offer treatments like Zoom! whitening or custom porcelain veneers to give you a flawless, radiant look that boosts your confidence.

5. You Experience Tooth Sensitivity

Are you suddenly wincing when you take a sip of hot coffee or eat ice cream? Sudden tooth sensitivity can be a sign of gum recession or enamel erosion caused by plaque buildup. When gums recede, they expose the sensitive roots of your teeth, which do not have the same protective enamel layer as the crown.

Sensitivity can also indicate a cavity or a loose filling. Our doctors use high-tech digital dentistry to diagnose the exact cause of your discomfort. If you are experiencing new or worsening sensitivity, reach out to our team at (312) 787-2131 for an assessment before the issue progresses.

6. You Have Jaw Pain or Headaches

Sometimes the signs you need a dental visit aren’t just about the teeth themselves. If you wake up with jaw soreness, headaches, or facial pain, you might be grinding your teeth (bruxism) at night. This can lead to excessive wear on your enamel and significant strain on your jaw joints.

During your check-up, Dr. Aneszko, Dr. Stino, or Dr. Moran can examine your teeth for signs of wear and discuss customnightguards to protect your smile while you sleep. Addressing this early prevents cracked teeth and the need for more extensive restorative work later.

7. It Has Been More Than Six Months

The golden rule of general dentistry is to visit your dentist every six months. Even if you don’t feel pain or see visible issues, prevention is key. Many dental problems, such as cavities between teeth or early gum disease, are silent until they become advanced and painful.

Routine visits allow our team to:

• Perform oral cancer screenings.
• Check existing restorations like fillings or crowns.
• Update X-rays to see what is happening beneath the surface.

Experience the Water Tower Difference

At Water Tower Dental Care, we strive to make your visit as comfortable as possible. We offer a comfort menu that includes Bose noise-canceling headphones, ceiling TVs for streaming entertainment, and even freshly made fruit smoothies. For those with dental anxiety, we also offer sedation dentistry to ensure you remain relaxed throughout your treatment.

Don’t wait for a toothache to ruin your week. Maintaining a regular cleaning schedule is the best way to ensure a lifetime of healthy smiles. Whether you need a simple cleaning or are interested in Invisalign to straighten your teeth, we are here to help.

If it has been a while since you searched for “dentists near you” and scheduled a visit, now is the time to get back on track. Call our top Chicago dentists near you at (312) 787-2131 to book your appointment.