food

One of the most popular things that couples do on Valentine’s Day is to go out to eat. Maybe you’re looking to try a new restaurant, or maybe you have a place that you like to go to year after year. But regardless of where you go, it’s a great time to treat yourself. Splurge on the chocolate cake or have an extra glass of wine, but make sure you’re balancing it out with the rest of your meal. Foods like these can be damaging to your teeth, but did you know that when food is eaten as part of a meal, it causes less harm than snacking throughout the day? It’s true! More saliva is released during meals, which helps wash foods away from the teeth and lessens the effects of the acidity, which can harm teeth and cause cavities. So, splurge away this Valentine's Day!

There are some really fantastic restaurants where you can celebrate Valentine’s Day with your sweetheart right on Chicago's Magnificent Mile. Here are some of our favorites:

1. The Purple Pig

Named one of Bon Appetit’s “10 Best New Restaurants in America” in 2010, the Purple Pig has a rustic feel with a focus on pork, although the menu has many other standout dishes. They have some shareable plates on the menu, too, which is a great way to share a Valentine’s Day meal with your sweetie.

Split the salt and vinegar beef tendon chips for an appetizer, and then try the milk braised pork shoulder with mashed potatoes or the Greek style chicken. Follow your meal with some brown butter panna cotta or pistachio cake.

2. NoMi Kitchen

Located in the Park Hyatt, NoMi Kitchen was named one of the 10 best hotel restaurants in the world. Sit in NoMi Kitchen and enjoy the chic, contemporary setting while looking out at the panoramic view of the city. Or, head up to the seventh floor of the hotel and enjoy the NoMi Lounge.

At the Kitchen, you can try the beef tartare to start, then order the rainbow trout to share with your date and a side of mac and cheese. For dessert, try their handmade ice cream of sorbet. Or, stop by the Lounge and try the handmade seasonal pickles for an appetizer and their sushi or sashimi for your main.

3. Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak, and Stone Crab

If you’re looking for a place where you and your Valentine can feel fancy, have your Valentine’s Day meal at Joe’s. It has a supper club setting, and the tuxedoed staff will make your evening feel even more special. They have a wide range of seafood dishes to try, from stone crab to fish and chips to Chilean seabass.

Try the fried calamari or steak tartare for a starter, and then have a classic hamburger, porterhouse with a baked potato, or the crispy fried shrimp with a side of fried asparagus. For dessert, try the cheesecake.

4. Shanghai Terrace

Zagat named Shanghai Terrace the “Best Chinese Restaurant in Chicago.” It offers amazing cocktails, delicious food, and a 1930s supper club decor. Located in the Peninsula Hotel, they offer a special Valentine's Day menu that consists of five courses and dessert.

If you come here to celebrate, you can enjoy a dim sum trio, fried prawns, westlake beef chowder, sweet and sour chicken, spicy lamb with black bean sauce, and green tea and white chocolate raspberry cake for dessert.

5. Bandera

A Bandera, they have live jazz every night and a menu of American food with a southwestern twist. Stop in the comfortable and inviting restaurant and enjoy the view of Michigan Avenue while you enjoy the famous skillet cornbread, fresh and still warm from the oven.

Try the spinach and artichoke dip to start. For the main course, try a burger, Seattle style BBQ salmon, or their aged and seasoned prime rib. Add some tabbouleh, or some hand cut french fries as a side and finish it off with some apple walnut cobbler or homemade Oreo ice cream sandwiches.

The Magnificent Mile is a wonderful place to spend Valentine’s Day with that special someone. As you can see, there are a variety of cuisines available, each with its own distinct atmosphere. You’re sure to find the perfect place for a meal with your Valentine. Remember, Valentine’s Day dinner is a great time to indulge. Just remember to brush your teeth when you get home.

If you have any questions about how to take care of your teeth, or if you'd like to book an appointment with Chicago's number one dentistry, Water Tower Dental Care, contact us today.

When you’re fast asleep, the last thing you’re thinking about is your teeth. (Unless you’re having a dental dream, of course.) So it’s important to make sure that your teeth are well protected before you hit the hay for a long night of sleep. We’ve put together a short checklist that you can use every night before you go to bed to keep your teeth protected all night long.

• Brush your teeth before bed

Not brushing before bed is one of the worst decisions you can make for your teeth. If you leave food and plaque inside your mouth, bacteria can eat away at your teeth all night long. This can quickly lead to cavities, tooth decay and gum disease. That’s why it’s important to brush away any plaque that has built up over the course of the day with toothpaste and a toothbrush.

• Don’t forget to floss

Brushing is just your first line of defense against plaque. Unfortunately, most brush bristles can’t effectively clear out food and plaque stuck between your teeth. That’s where floss comes in. Flossing can get rid of hard-to-reach plaque that might otherwise cause tooth decay between your teeth and irritate your gums during the night.

• Finish up your cleaning with a little mouthwash

Your nighttime cleaning routine shouldn’t end with flossing! While many people may only think of mouthwash as a way to freshen their breath, it can do a lot more than that. Swishing mouthwash correctly can destroy any lingering bacteria and wash away leftover loose plaque in your mouth. When you use mouthwash, make sure to swish it back and forth, reaching every area from the top of your gums to your lower front teeth. Gargle a few seconds before you spit, making sure not to swallow.

• Don’t eat after you clean your teeth

The last thing you want to do after cleaning your teeth is get them dirty again with food. Try to finish eating before you clean your teeth at night. If you eat after brushing and flossing, the acid from the bacteria in your food will attack your teeth and gums while you’re asleep. Food isn’t the only culprit here. Any drinks that provide a food source for bacteria (like sugar) can also lead to bacteria growth overnight. You want to make sure to get rid of these bacteria before you call it a night.

• Put on your mouthguard - or consider one if you grind your teeth

Grinding your teeth can wear them down, leading to serious problems such as broken teeth, migraines and TMJ disease. If you have a nightguard from your dentist, it’s important that you wear it every night so that you avoid damaging your teeth by grinding.
If you don’t currently have a nightguard, it’s important to know the symptoms of teeth grinding and clenching in case you need one. Since you’re not conscious while you sleep, it can be difficult to know if you grind your teeth during the night. The following are symptoms of grinding and clenching that can help you identify if you have a problem:

• Chipped or broken teeth
• Teeth that are worn down with flattened surfaces
• Pain in your jaw
• Damaged tissue in your mouth
• Headaches or pain in your face
• Earaches from your jaw
• Sensitive teeth
• Enamel loss
• Irregular tongue edges

If you live with your partner, you can also ask them if they have ever noticed that you grind your teeth during the night. A dentist should also be able to recognize if you grind or clench your teeth.
We hope this little guide helps you to protect your teeth while you’re sleeping. If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out to us on our Facebook page! Here at Water Tower Dental Care, we’re devoting to providing you with the tools and information you need to keep your smile healthy and happy. And for more information about selecting a pillow, visit Sleep Healthier.

The wonderful thing about being early for a Water Tower Dental Care appointment is our location! Since we’re located in what many consider Chicago’s best shopping mall, you don’t have to succumb to boredom while waiting in a dental office for your name to be called. Instead, we encourage you to go out and explore Water Tower Place and Chicago’s Magnificent Mile!

Here are a few of our favorite nearby attractions for you to enjoy if you’re early for an appointment with us (which you may actually want to be after reading this!).

Take a Trip to the Top of The John Hancock at the 360 Chicago Observation Deck

One of the most beautiful panoramic views of the city is just a few steps from the Water Tower Dental Care office! The 360 Chicago Observation Deck at the Hancock building offers breathtaking views of Chicago, giving even the most established residents a fresh new look of the city. Lines can get long, so it’s best to buy tickets ahead of time if you can or scope it out before you commit to buying tickets. We don’t want you waiting so long that you forget about your appointment!
You can save money and time by buying tickets ahead of time here for $20. Chicago residents with an ID can get tickets on site for just $10. If the line’s too long or pricing is too steep for you, check out Tilt instead!
Price: $20 online, $24 on site, $10 on site if you’re a Chicago resident with a valid ID. Tuesday’s are free for Chicago residents!

Get a Bite to Eat

Relax, unwind and feast before you get your pearly whites checked out. Chicago’s Magnificent Mile offers a variety of delicious restaurant options that are walking distance from our office! We’ve listed five of our favorite food options that are good for your teeth in Water Tower Place here. Take a look before you head over!
Price: Varies

Browse the American Girl Place or Chicago Sports Museum with Your Little One

If you’re early for a dentist appointment for your little one, don’t fret! The American Girl Place in Water Tower Place should keep them entertained. This store isn’t your average retail shop. It’s an experience, with a doll hair salon, spa, ear piercing station, and restaurant. It’s also the only American Girl Store in Chicago!
If American Girl isn’t your child’s cup of tea, there’s always the Chicago Sports Museum at Harry Caray’s 7th Inning Stretch, which features unique sports memorabilia, gear and uniforms used in iconic games, and high-tech interactive challenges and experiences.
Prices: American Girl Store: Free without purchase. Chicago Sports Museum: $6 general admission. If you eat at Harry Caray’s 7th Inning Stretch, you can get free tickets to the museum!

Get Cultured at the Loyola University Museum of Art (LUMA)

If you have an hour or more to spare before your appointment, we suggest visiting the Loyola University Museum of Art. It’s a small but stimulating museum with art that explore the spirit of all faiths and cultures. You will find artwork from Europe during the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Baroque eras as well as more contemporary pieces. Take a look at the museum’s current exhibitions here.
Prices: $9 for general admission. Tuesday’s are free for Chicago residents!
Looking to do something specific before or after your appointment at our dentist’s office? Give us a call today! We’ll set you up with something fun to do. You can also take a look at our guide to Chicago here!

Food products like garlic and onion are known to cause bad breath. But did you know that some foods can actually help your breath smell good? It’s true. Mints aren’t the only solution to a stinky mouth. Here are five foods that can actually make your breath smell great!

Dairy

Dairy isn’t just great for your pearly whites. Dairy products like yogurt and cheese are also pretty good at fighting off bad breath. Cheese neutralizes acids after you’ve eaten, making sure that they don’t give off any sour smells. Probiotic yogurts with live active cultures can reduce sulfite compounds in your mouth that cause bad breath. The vitamin D in these yogurts also reduces smelly mouth bacteria.

Crunchy Apples and Celery

An apple a day keeps the smell away. Crisp and crunchy foods like apples and celery actually clean your teeth, removing soft and sticky food that’s stuck there. These foods can also push plaque away from your teeth when you bite into them. Just because they do some scrubbing doesn’t mean you should skip brushing or flossing. But apples and celery are a great snack between meals to keep your mouth smelling fresh.

Fennel Seeds

Fennel seeds are extremely flavorful and aromatic, so it’s no surprise they can keep bad breath at bay. These seeds work to neutralize bad smells in your mouth. But along with that, they actually have antibacterial properties, giving them the power to fight off bacteria that causes bad breath.

Ginger

If you’ve ever taken a bite out of ginger, you know it packs a punch. Ginger is regularly used to clean your palate. And it also gets rid of bad breath with its powerful flavor. Just make sure you like the flavor of ginger before you bite into it or make a drink with it, because you can’t plug your nose to escape its flavor.

Fruits That Pack a Lot of Vitamin C

Along with keeping your body healthy, vitamin C keeps bad breath away. The bacteria that causes bad breath can’t actually grow very well in environments filled with vitamin C. Fruits that also contain a lot of water, like melons and citrus fruit, can wash rotting food and bacteria away. Try eating strawberries, cantaloupe or oranges next time you notice your breath smelling funky.
We hope you give these foods a try next time you have bad breath. If you can’t seem to get rid of the smell, feel free to contact Water Tower Dental Care. If you have a dental issue causing your bad breath, we’ll get to the bottom of it!

Salt, or sodium, has often said to be both good and bad for your teeth. While high sodium-intake has generally been associated with many detrimental effects, (which is why healthy eating has also been associated with staying away from food rich in sodium) many people practicing good oral hygiene will rinse their mouth with salt. Is salt actually good or bad for your teeth? Here are some of the pros and cons:

Why Salt Can Be Good for Your Teeth

The sodium chemical itself has proved itself to be good for your teeth in a few ways:

1. Short term, saltwater mouthwash rinses are great treatments for your mouth and any wounds you may have. If you’ve had oral surgery recently, infections, or gum swelling, saltwater will help to remove swelling, as it is a natural disinfectant.
2. Salt helps to increase the pH balance in your mouth, making it hard for abrasive bacteria to survive in this alkaline environment.
3. According to the American Dental Association, salt is a common ingredient in foaming detergents in toothpaste, which helps toothpaste stay in your mouth, preventing dribbling.

Why Salt Can Be Bad for Your Teeth

While salt washes have been commonly used and are considered good for your teeth, the opposite is true of sodium-rich food. Sodium may not directly cause tooth decay, but sodium-rich diets have been found to be bad for your teeth. Here are some of the reasons why:

1. Oral bacteria thrive on simple sugars, which are produced when you ingest food or beverages rich in carbohydrates. Carbohydrates, such as bread, pasta, crackers, tend to be rich in sodium. These foods are broken down into simple sugars and starches. The interaction between oral bacteria and simple sugars create harsh acids that have the same effect as sugary food, eroding tooth enamel and leading to tooth decay.
2. Teeth often rely on calcium to produce structure and strength. A high-sodium diet causes your body to excrete excess calcium, leading to tooth loss and even osteoporosis!

In conclusion, while, salt has been found to have many positive effects on teeth, a sodium-rich diet can have various detrimental effects, similar to a sugary diet. To avoid cavities and tooth decay, strive to have a diet low in sodium. Tooth decay can also be prevented through brushing, flossing, and proper oral hygiene. If your teeth have been affected, let Water Tower Dental help you today!

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.

We’ve all been there. Eating lunch with a coworker or a friend and getting a big piece of food stuck in our teeth. They may point out that you have something stuck in between your pearly whites and you may quickly work to get it out. Or, even worse, you might notice it afterwards in the mirror and know that they were too hesitant to point it out.
Not only can getting food stuck in your teeth be embarrassing, but it can also be uncomfortable and even painful. Worst of all, leaving food lodged between your teeth to rot can cause serious dental issues, like cavities and gum decay. Here are some of the biggest food culprits that like to stay wedged between your teeth. Make sure to bring floss along when you’re planning to eat these food items.

Poppy Seeds, Sesame Seeds... Pretty Much All Seeds

Seeds are probably the most frustrating of all the foods on this list. You can’t really eat around them if they are in your meal or snack because they are so small. And once seeds are stuck in your teeth, it can be incredibly hard to dig them out of there because of their size. If you wear braces, it’s best to stay away from food that contains seeds. They can bend or break your wires if they get lodged in the right place.

Popcorn

The buttery, salty goodness of popcorn is the perfect companion during a comforting movie. But its aftermath is enough to put many of us off of it. Sharp kernel pieces can shove their way between your gums and teeth, especially in your molars, causing pain, discomfort and a dangerous space for bacteria to breed. Next time you eat popcorn, try to pay attention to how you’re eating it to avoid discomfort at best, and gum issues at worst.

Sticky Candy

Most of us love the sugary sweetness of caramel, taffies and gummies. But most of us also know that these candies pretty much always stick to our teeth in the most annoying spots. Bacteria love sugar, so leaving these candies stuck to our teeth for hours at a time can easily result in cavities. Try swishing water in your mouth and flossing after you’re done munching on chewy candy, and brush about 30 minutes after eating.

Raspberries

The real issue with these delicious fruits isn’t the raspberries themselves. Rather, it’s the hundreds of tiny seeds inside of them. Just like poppy seeds and sesame seeds, raspberry seeds can get lodged in the most inconvenient spaces, particularly in your molar region, which is the hardest to reach.

Chewy Meat

Now that we’ve covered the small bites, it’s time to take a look at the big guys: meats. Chewy strings from steak, rib, chicken and beef can easily make their way into tight spaces between your chompers. If you marinate the meat with acidic, seasoned liquid, these pieces of meat can attract lots of bacteria that will eat away at your enamel.

Tips to Keep Food Out Of Your Teeth

Just because these food options are likely to get stuck in your teeth doesn’t mean you should stop eating them. Here are some tips from our dentists to keep your smile food-free:

• Drink water while you’re eating
• Swish water around your mouth after your meal or snack
• Chew gum that contains xylitol after you’ve chowed down on sticky food
• Always keep toothpicks on hand
• Floss soon after eating these types of food, and brush 30 minutes afterwards

The 13-block stretch that you find our office on is called Chicago’s Magnificent Mile for a reason. It’s filled with the best in shopping, restaurants and entertainment (and dentists!) in Chicago. It truly is magnificent.
When you visit us at Water Tower Place, you’ll be in the heart of Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, with a bunch of food options around you if you’re feeling hungry. And we know the last thing you want to do before or after a dentist appointment is eat food that is bad for your teeth. We’ve rounded up a list of restaurants with the tastiest food options that are good for your teeth on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. This way, you can grab a delicious meal while taking care of your teeth when you’re visiting us, or anytime you’re in the area. Your mouth is in for a treat!
Restaurants featured:

1. Freshii (American)
2. Harry Caray’s 7^th Inning Stretch (Sports Bar, American)
3. The Signature Room (Fine Dining, American)
4. Foodlife (American, Pizza, Mexican)
5. Foodease (Specialty food)

Freshii

Water Tower Place, 835 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
If you’re looking for something fast and nutritious while you’re on the Magnificent Mile, look no further than Freshii. Freshii offers fresh, custom-made green wraps, salads, quinoa bowls, and pressed-juices.
Best Food Options for Your Teeth at Freshii:

• Metaboost, Ninja and Market wraps and salads: Chewing on wraps or salads packed with high-fiber veggies actually scrubs your teeth, leaving them squeaky clean.
• Low Fat Froyo: Frozen yogurt contains calcium and casein, a protein, which are essential keeping your tooth enamel strong.
• Strawberry Banana Smoothie: Strawberries naturally remove discoloration and whiten your enamel.

Harry Caray’s 7th Inning Stretch

Water Tower Place, 835 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Harry Caray’s 7th Inning Stretch is a fun and lively sports bar with some delicious food and drinks. If you’re a big sports fan, you’ve got to eat dinner or lunch here because you’ll get free access to the Chicago Sports Museum.
Best Food Options for Your Teeth at Harry Caray’s 7th Inning Stretch

• Mixed Greens and Sante Fe Salads: The chewy greens keep your teeth clean, while the onions’ anti-bacterial sulfur compounds will help to kill the bacteria that breed on your teeth and gums.
• Maple Mustard Glazed Salmon: The calcium and vitamin D in salmon will keep your teeth healthy and strong, and the baby spinach that comes with it will clean your teeth.
• Pizza: Yes, pizza is good for your teeth. Dairy products, especially cheese, help your enamel stabilize and repair itself. Harry Caray’s offers 5 different types of pizzas to suite your tastes.

The Signature Room

875 N. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
For a real delicacy, take the elevator to the top of the John Hancock Center. There, you’ll find The Signature Room. This fine dining restaurant offers exquisite food and a breathtaking skyline view of the city.
Best Food Options for Your Teeth at The Signature Room

• Dinner - Sautéed Scottish Salmon: With parmesan risotto, salmon roe butter and crispy salmon skin, your teeth and your taste buds will thank you for ordering this dish.
• Dinner - Vegetable Rigate Pasta: Cheese and shiitake mushrooms are key to making this dish good for your teeth. Cheese strengthens your enamel, and the natural sugar lentinan in shiitake mushrooms fights off the bacteria biofilm, which causes gingivitis.
• Lunch - Roasted Salmon Filet and Salmon Caesar Salad: By now, you should notice all of the salmon dishes we’re pointing out. The fish’s combination of vitamin D and calcium make it almost too good to be true.

Foodlife

Water Tower Place, 835 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Fresh, fast and made from scratch, you can find a wide variety of healthy and affordable food options at Foodlife.
Best Food Options for Your Teeth at Foodlife

• Sunshine and Mango Tango Smoothies: The orange in these smoothies provide you with a ton of vitamin C, which strengthens blood vessels and connective tissues, keeping your teeth strongly connected to your jaw. Vitamin C is also anti-inflammatory, so it can reduce and slow down the progression of gingivitis.
• Stir Fry with Veggies: Pack your bowl with crunchy, high-fiber veggies to give your teeth a good cleaning.
• Four Cheese Ravioli: Get your calcium and casein fix with this delicious pasta dish.

Foodease

Water Tower Place, 835 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
For the best in food quality, head on over to Foodease. You’ll find restaurant-quality food prepared to go, a grocery, hot entrees, bakery, salad bar, and more.
Best Food Options for Your Teeth at Foodease

• Salad Bar: Add chewy green veggies, like kale and spinach, and mushrooms to your salad to make it extra good for your teeth.
• Philadelphia Roll: Salmon is always your teeth’s friend.
• Maple Glazed Salmon: Again, you can’t go wrong with salmon. It’s delicious and incredibly good for your teeth.

Wondering if a specific type of food is good or bad for your teeth? Need more food recommendations for Water Tower Place or The Magnificent Mile? Ask us any questions you have on our Facebook page! We would love to help you make your diet better for your pearly whites.

Many people who wear braces are worried about keeping their teeth white. After all, cleaning your teeth is much more difficult with braces, and you can’t really use teeth-whitening products on the part of your teeth that’s covered up. What you can do, though, is prevent your teeth from discoloring. Find out how to do this with these 11 easy tips from our dental experts.

1. Follow Proper Oral Hygiene Practices: It’s even more important to take care of your teeth when you wear braces. If you wear braces, we typically recommend brushing your teeth three times a day, using mouthwash when you wake up and before you go to bed, and flossing with Superfloss once a day. Getting into a routine like this should remove daily stains and keep your smile sparkling white.

2. Brush One Tooth at a Time: It’s easy to miss spots on your teeth when there are braces in the way, so try to spend at least 10 seconds brushing each tooth. Move your toothbrush in a circular motion, making sure to brush between the archwires of your braces, and brush at different angles to ensure you’re sufficiently cleaning every part of your tooth.

3. Use an Electronic Toothbrush: Ultrasonic Electric toothbrushes make it easier and more effective for people with braces to clean around wires and brackets. But even if you don't wear braces, Ultrasonic Electric toothbrushes clean much more efficiently than traditional toothbrushes because of their ultrasonic action, breaking up plaque, tartar and stain-causing particles.

4. Brush or Rinse After Every Meal: After you eat, it’s important to get all of the food out from between your teeth and braces. Brushing after every meal will help you take care of any leftover food that can potentially cause discoloring. If you can’t brush your teeth throughout the day, try rinsing your mouth out with water or mouthwash instead.

5. Be Mindful of Teeth-Staining Food and Drinks: Common items that can stain your teeth include red wine, dark juice, sports drinks, black tea, dark soda, coffee, blueberries, blackberries, and beats. Avoid consuming unhealthy types of food and beverages that can stain your teeth. If you do eat or drink things that can cause discoloration, make sure to brush your teeth and rinse out your mouth soon afterwards to keep your teeth white.

6. Eat Food That Cleans Your Teeth: Toothbrushes aren’t the only things that clean your teeth. Firm and crisp food, like apples, celery, raw carrots, and popcorn, can help make your smile shine as well! Try to eat these types of food right before you brush at night.

7. Take Off Removable Dental Appliances: Before you clean your teeth, take off any removable dental appliances, like bands or headgear. This will give you better access to your teeth.

8. Avoid Eating Unhealthy Sugar: Sugary foods, like candy, can cause tooth decay and lead to discoloration. Eating candy can be especially problematic when you have braces, as sticky candy can get stuck in them. Try eating fruits and veggies instead. If you do eat sugary food or drink soda, make sure to thoroughly brush, floss and rinse out your mouth afterwards.

9. Use Superfloss: Superfloss makes flossing much easier for people with braces and other dental appliances. It’s made up of three different parts: a stiffened-end threader (for flossing between wires), soft spongey floss (for cleaning around appliances), and regular floss (for removing plaque normally between your teeth).

10. Ditch the Cigarettes: Smoking decreases the amount of saliva in your mouth, which means the lines of your teeth are not getting cleaned out as much and your teeth aren’t as protected from decay. All of these changes can very likely lead to discoloration in your teeth.

11. Come See The Experts: Other than taking proper daily care of your teeth, the best thing you can do to keep your teeth white and healthy is visit your dentist regularly. We’ll give your teeth a deep clean and let you know how healthy they are and what you can do to improve them.

Feel free to contact Chicago’s Number One Rated Dentistry to see how your teeth are doing. We’re experts at teeth whitening, and we would love to use our skills help keep your smile white and sparkling.

Sensitive teeth can be caused by a number of issues including an exposed nerve, a fractured or worn tooth, and receding gums. While visiting a dentist is the best way to prevent most of these issues, you can avoid the pain that is associated with sensitive teeth by limiting certain foods and drinks. Here are the most common types of food that can agitate your teeth and cause a lot of pain.

Foods To Avoid If You Have Sensitive Teeth:

Hot and Cold Food

Many of the foods that can cause pain to sensitive teeth are not caused by the specific food but by the temperature of the food. Extremely cold or hot foods can cause pain on the fractured tooth or teeth. Ice cream and cold drinks can cause pain, but the worst is chewing ice. Hot coffee and tea along with hot soup are warmer foods and drinks that can cause sensitive teeth to be aggravated. The best solution is to avoid these types of food and opt for meals with less extreme temperatures.

Acidic Food

Acidic foods such as citrus fruits, like lemons and oranges, along with vinegar-based foods, like pickles and olives, can often cause sensitive teeth and can make the pain that comes along with sensitive teeth worse. Acidic foods wear away at the enamel of the tooth which can make the problem worse.

Sugary Candies

Most kinds of candy will cause discomfort for sensitive teeth. Hard candies such as suckers and peppermints, which people tend to bite down on, can create further damage to your teeth along with causing strong pains. Furthermore, chewy candies such as gummy bears and licorice can get stuck inside open cavities and under gums, which will cause discomfort.
While certain foods can cause pain to your teeth, there are other foods that can help relieve discomfort.

Food That is Good for Sensitive Teeth:

Dairy Food

Milks, cheeses, yogurt, and other dairy products contain a protective protein layer known as casein. This protein acts as a shield from acidic elements that tend to hurt the teeth. As well, casein is able to keep minerals essential to healthy teeth from leaving the tooth.

Oxalate-Rich Food

Oxalic acid is in many nutrient-rich foods, such as spinach, carrots, and radishes. It is what causes the fuzzy feeling on your teeth when eating. This feeling is oxalate crystals precipitating on your teeth, which helps plug up dentinal tubules. This is the area where pain starts. Try eating foods rich in oxalic acid to help stop pain and reverse the causes of the sensitive teeth.
Of course, the best way to prevent sensitive teeth is by proper oral hygiene practices and visiting your dentist at least twice a year. Properly flossing once a day and brushing your teeth at least twice a day are great ways to help prevent your teeth from becoming too sensitive.
If you are experiencing a noticeable amount of discomfort in your mouth when chewing any of the types of food above, it is recommended you visit your dentist to determine the cause of the aching before it becomes a bigger problem than necessary. If you have more questions about teeth sensitivity, contact Water Tower Dental today, we’re happy to help!

If you have trouble with bad breath, you might find that onions and garlic are two of your worst enemies. While other smelly foods can usually be defeated with a mint or a quick swish of mouthwash, onions and garlic always seem to be a lot harder to combat. That’s due to the chemical makeup of onions, garlic, and any plant in the allium plant family (shallots, scallions, leeks, etc).

Garlic, onions, and the rest of the allium plant family affect your breath in two ways. The first is how most other foods give you bad breath, which is by the sulfuric compounds that actually get stuck in your mouth. They get stuck either between your teeth, in the pockets of your gums, or on your tongue. As the food is broken down and rots in your mouth, it begins to smell worse, thus giving you bad breath.
The second way allium plants affect your breath is slightly more complicated. When you eat garlic and other allium plants, you digest certain chemical compounds. The one that affects your breath is known as allyl methyl sulfide. This chemical comes out as a gas and is absorbed into the bloodstream. By traveling through the blood it is able to enter the lungs where it is exhaled. Unfortunately for us, allyl methyl sulfide gives off quite a harsh smell. This is why garlic, onions, and all of the allium plants give you bad breath that’s almost impossible to combat.

Getting Rid of Garlic and Onion Breath

There’s good news and bad news when combating garlic and onion breath. First, the bad news: The only way to completely eliminate garlic and onion breath is by not eating garlic and onions. That’s because there really is no way to remove the smell of garlic or onions from your bloodstream. The good news, however, is that, although you can’t completely eliminate the smell of garlic or onions, you can get rid of a good deal of the smell as well as take preventative measures to ensure your bad breath doesn’t get out of control.

Brush, Floss and Use Mouthwash

Of course, first and foremost, the best way to rid your mouth of garlic and onion breath is with proper hygiene practices. Flossing, brushing, and mouthwash will all help remove food particles in your mouth while killing bad bacteria and leaving your mouth looking and feeling fresh.

Parsley Can Help With Bad Breath

Ever see that little sprig of green on your plate at a restaurant? That’s parsley and it’s there to help your mouth. Chewing that bit of green can help neutralize the odors of garlic and onions. Even better, parsley in the meal can help keep the bad breath from developing in the first place.

Eat Lemons to Neutralize the Garlic and Onion Odor

Lemons help by neutralizing garlic and onion odor while also killing the bad bacteria associated with bad breath. Try sucking on a lemon wedge after a meal that’s loaded with either of the two smelly plants. Your breath will feel fresher almost instantly.

Drink Green Tea

If you’re concerned about bad garlic or onion breath, drinking green tea can really help. The polyphenols in tea are able to combat and reduce the amount of sulfur compounds produced by them.

Drink Milk While You're Eating the Smelly Food

And lastly, for those who are most concerned about their breath, studies have shown that milk can actually help reduce the odor of garlic or onions. Though for best possible results, one should drink milk with every bite of they take.
While fighting bad breath from allium plants might be a hard task, there are plenty of ways you can help prevent bad breath from occurring. Whether by brushing and flossing, or trying out some home remedies, you can help reduce the smell of garlic and onions on your breath.
For more information about the best and worst foods for your breath, click here. We here at Water Tower Dental Care are always happy to help you with any oral health questions you may have. Feel free to contact Water Tower Dental today.
 

We all hate dealing with bad breath. Whether it’s our own or someone else’s, it’s never a fun experience. And even though you may brush, floss, and use mouthwash everyday, you still find that your breath can become rather nasty by the end of the day (or less fortunately, the middle). Great oral hygiene is a start to combating bad breath, however, sometimes our bad breath is directly related to the food we do (and don’t) eat. There are plenty of foods that cause bad breath, and some that help fight the awful smells. Here’s our list of the top foods for each.

The Worst Foods For Your Breath

Garlic
No one should be surprised to learn that garlic is tough on breath. Though extremely healthy for you, it’ll leave you mouth steaming with funky smells. This is because, not only is it a hard smell to wash out of the mouth, garlic is absorbed into the bloodstream by a chemical known as allyl methyl sulfide. As it travels through your blood, it makes it to your lungs and pushes out of you like smoke out a chimney. Brush your teeth all you want, it can’t save you from the power of smelly garlic.
Onions
Similar to garlic, onions contain an amino acid known as allin. Once cut, the amino acid turns to propenyl sulfuric acid, the chemical responsible for making you tear up when cutting this veggie. And if you think it smells bad when cutting, just imagine how your friends feel when they have to hold a conversation with you. Eating raw onions can send your breath down a slippery slope from bad to so much worse, so we recommend cooking onions before eating, at least for the sake of your friends.
Coffee
Can something that smells good give you bad breath? Coffee is your case and point. The acidity of coffee can linger inside your mouth for a long time, making saliva its sour friend. As well, the acidity from the coffee can neutralize the acid in your stomach allowing gastric juices to make an appearance out of the mouth. Not good for breath… Not good for anything.
Curry
The mother of all bad breath inducers, Indian curries are a mix of onion, garlic, fennel, and other spicy ingredients that will send anyone in a 3-foot radius of you running for the hills (if they don’t pass out first).

The Best Foods For Your Breath

Crunchy Fruit and Veggies
To combat all of these breath-killing foods, you need a defense strategy, and first in line are crunchy fruits and vegetables. Apples, carrots, celery and other fiber-rich fruits and veggies are your natural toothbrush. Their fibrous texture is able to push plaque and nasty food stuck in your teeth out of your mouth. As well, they increase saliva production, which helps rinse out the mouth.
Yogurt
Yogurt is truly an amazing food. It’s made of probiotics, bacteria that’s good for you. When consumed, it’s able to reduce the level of hydrogen sulfide in the mouth (that’s the stuff that makes your breath bad in the first place). Of course, make sure you’re choosing the right yogurt, the kind with active cultures. Avoid any yogurt that has too much sugar or is over-processed.
Vitamin C-heavy Fruits
Fruits high in vitamin C such as berries, oranges, and melons can help reduce the amount of bacteria growth in the mouth. High in vitamins and acidity, it’s able to keep bacteria at bay along with helping prevent periodontal disease.
Fresh Herbs
For those of you still wondering what that little green piece of grass on your dinner plate is, here’s your answer: parsley. A natural palate cleanser, parsley contains chlorophyll which helps reduce bad breath smells, as well as makes your mouth lose the taste of all the food you may have eaten. But don’t stop there; many herbs can help fight breath including coriander, spearmint, tarragon, and rosemary.
Water
Of course, the simplest food of all is one of the best to help cure bad breath. Much of the time, bad breath is caused by food that’s just stuck in your teeth and gums. Water helps flush out the mouth and gets it to a point of freshness. It’s like putting your dishes in the dishwasher. They don’t just sit there with the hopes that all the food stuck on the plate goes away. They’re bombarded with water splashing against them so they can be clean and clear. The same goes for your teeth, the more water you drink, the fresher your mouth will be.
Though some foods cannot be avoided and will give you harsh breath from time to time. Most of the time, the best way to keep your breath fresh and healthy is by drinking lots of water, then brushing and flossing after every meal. Don’t wait too long afterwards because that’s prime time for bacteria to build up and make a home. If you want fresh breath proper oral hygiene will go a long way.
 

We spend a considerable amount of time discussing the best and worst foods for your teeth. And while there are plenty of both foods to consume and not to consume, we’d like to share with you the foods we recommend you completely cut out of your diet. Sure, there are foods like apples that can be bad for your teeth (as well as good), they are ultimately good for your body. However, we believe the following foods have no substantial value to your health, so we feel no hesitancy suggesting you cut these foods from your diet completely, at least for the sake of your teeth.

1. Hard Candy, Caramel, and Long-Lasting Sweets

We’ve discussed the effects of sugar on your teeth before. While you may be able to beat the damaging causes of sugar, we recommend trying to cut out any of the tougher candies that can ruin your teeth. The fact is that you’re letting a high concentration of sugar rest in your mouth. This creates a feeding frenzy for any and all bacteria. Furthermore, because you allow the candy to stay in one place, in the mouth, for a long time, a large amount of acid can build up in those, which then causes demineralization. Along with the harms of sugar, hard candies are often chewed before finished. This can easily crack or fracture a tooth, which causes a whole other deal of trouble.

2. Canned Fruit

Fruits like peaches and pears are already packed with sugar. Unfortunately, food manufacturers can these fruits and pack them with a ton of extra sugar. When it comes to oranges and other canned citrus fruit, it’s even worse as the sugars combine with the citric acid to create a bulldozer of harmful substances to attack your teeth. We recommend eating fruit, but stick with the fresh stuff. If you must buy canned, look for fruit canned in its own juices, or buy frozen instead.

3. Soft Drinks / Soda

Sodas and Soft Drinks (even diet) are horrible for your teeth and should be avoided at all costs. Along with having no substantial value to your overall diet, sodas are filled with acidic sugars that are perfect for rotting teeth. Most sodas also contain phosphoric and citric acids that can also easily erode teeth. Take a moment to research soda and you’ll see that it’s not only a tasty drink, but can help remove rust off of nails and clean stains off of toilets. Is that something you really want in your body? Cutting soft drinks out of your diet is a great way to keep your teeth healthy and to avoid unwanted sugars.

4. Ice

Ice is a very helpful substance that cools our beverages, but when we choose to pop those ice cubes in our mouth and start chewing, then we’re risking some serious damage to our teeth. While, yes, ice is sugar free, it is just as harmful if you chew it. It’s one of the leading causes of cracked or damaged teeth. If you chew ice, we recommend finding something else to occupy your time, try gum with the ADA Seal which helps you understand which gum is good for your teeth.

5. Saltine Crackers and Potato Chips

All processed carbs such as Saltine crackers and potato chips are extremely harmful to the teeth without providing any real benefit to the body. The problem is, though crackers and chips start crunchy, they become gummy in the mouth once chewed. The carbs, which are just sugar, end up snuggling themselves high up into the gums where they can get caught in pockets between your teeth. Even brushing shortly after might not be able to remove all of the gummy carbs that have hid themselves inside your gums. We recommend avoiding these kind of snacks as much as possible.
Of course, we all have our guilty pleasures, and most of these foods fall into that category. If you do choose to eat these harmful foods, do your best to brush your teeth soon after to remove the sugars and harmful acids that can erode your teeth. If you have any more questions, contact Water Tower Dental, we’d be happy to help.

While listing out your New Years resolutions this time around, consider adding a few resolutions for your health, and specifically, your mouth. Keeping your teeth, gums, and tongue in good shape can help you in the years to come. Practicing good oral hygiene will help you look and feel good, along with allow you to avoid major dental surgeries and complications in the future. Here are 5 tips you can easily make into New Years resolutions for a better, healthier smile.

Brush for At Least Two Minutes Every Time

Though it may be simple to brush your teeth everyday, it’s a lot harder to do it for as long as it’s recommended. Two minutes is the least amount of time you should brush your teeth. Try singing a song in your head that’s at least that long, or keep a timer close to your toothbrush. You could also use an electric toothbrush, like SoniCare, which has a built in timer. Brushing is the most effective way of cleaning your teeth and keeping them as healthy as possible, but very little is done if you brush for under two minutes. Resolve to brush for at least two minutes every time you brush and you’ll notice a healthier, cleaner smile.

Avoid Sugary Drinks

One of the most harmful foods for your teeth are drinks that are high in sugar: sodas, fruit juices, Gatorade, and the like. These drinks eat away at the enamel of your teeth and feed the bacteria that lives in your mouth. Because it’s a liquid, these sugars are able to fit into every nook and cranny of your teeth and are tough to get out. Set a resolution this year to avoid these harmful drinks for the sake of your teeth. If you must have a soda every once in awhile though, try to drink a glass of water or brush after you consume it. This will help remove the sugars from your teeth and gums.

Floss Everyday

It’s incredibly important to floss once a day. The most harmful bacterias tend to colonize and reproduce under your teeth and in the crevices of your gums. Flossing helps remove the plaque and bacteria before it can reach those pockets. By removing the debris that’s between your teeth, where a toothbrush can’t reach, you can lower your risk of dental complications such as periodontitis, otherwise known as gum disease. For more information on flossing, check out this article.

Get a Tongue Scraper

In the New Year, find yourself a tongue scraper that works for you and use it. The main causes of bad breath don’t have to do with your teeth or gums, but rather your tongue. Bacteria builds up on the surface of your tongue, especially in the back area near your throat. A tongue scraper is a small instrument that you glide against the groove of your tongue to pull off any bacteria that has formed on the top of the surface. Tongue scrapers are a great way to keep your mouth clean while making your breath smell fresh.

Visit Your Dentist

This year, resolve to visit your dentist once every six months. Routine check ups are a great way to get a fresh cleaning and to detect any complications before they become a costly situation. Periodontitis and cavities can be easily detected in the early stages to help keep them from becoming a serious issue. As well, your dentist will talk to you about ways of cleaning your teeth better and how to have the healthiest smile possible. At Water Tower Dental, we want to make sure every patient of ours is getting the best treatment available. If you’d like to make an appointment with us, please contact us today. Good luck in the new year, here’s to healthier teeth!

Last week we listed the solutions for fixing a chipped tooth. Today we'd like to get a little more in depth on some of the harmful foods and activities that can crack, chip, or fracture a tooth.
When the enamel of your tooth is worn down, or if your tooth is already fairly decayed, your teeth have much higher potential of chipping. To guarantee you are the least likely to chip a tooth, we recommend, first, to practice proper dental hygiene by brushing your teeth after meals, flossing once a day, and visiting the dentist for cleanings and check-ups on a regular basis.
However, even with proper care for your teeth, a chipped or cracked tooth is still possible. Here are some of the main causes for chipped teeth.

1. Dangerous Foods

While your teeth can often bite down on some tough meals, they're not an invincible force. Often, if you bite down too hard on the wrong food, you'll have to say goodbye to a piece of your tooth. Here are three of the biggest culprits:
Popcorn: Make sure to leave the last few kernels in that bowl of popcorn alone.
Hard Candies: We all find ourselves biting down on a hard candy much earlier than we hoped. Break the mistake by avoiding these dangerous treats.
Ice: Chewing on ice is bad news for teeth. Try switching to sugar-free gum, or better yet, carrots and celery.

2. Dangerous Habits

Nervous ticks and bad habits such as biting your nails or chewing on the back of your pencil can often harm the front of your teeth. Kick those nasty habits before its too late.

3. Grinding In Your Sleep

Many of our patients are doing everything to keep great oral hygiene yet see their tooth enamel wearing down. That is because, whether they know it or not, they are grinding their teeth in their sleep. Some do it when they have a lot of stress in their lives or during a scary dream; others do it for no reason at all. No matter why, it's a leading cause for tooth enamel wear down and potential cracked teeth.
If you suspect you grind your teeth at night, or a significant other has claimed you do, see a specialist that can fit you for a mouth guard that can help stop the problem before its too late.

4. Absent Mouth guard

Speaking of mouth guards, many sports players chip teeth when they don't wear their protective mouth gear. A mouth guard is a safe and easy way to keep your teeth intact. For any sport with physical contact, one should consider using a mouth guard.

5. Using Your Teeth Incorrectly

Ever try to open a bottle or a stubborn potato chip bag with your teeth? Unfortunately this is a very easy way to hurt yourself and crack a tooth. Using your teeth for unintended uses is highly discouraged. Rather, grab scissors, pliers, a knife, or the many other tools man has created to open those frustrating packages.

6. Crooked Teeth

Last, untreated, crooked teeth can cause harm to your teeth by kicking or damaging areas while chewing or other activities. We recommend braces or Invisalign to straighten teeth and ensure that a crooked tooth doesn't cause further damage to your teeth.
We can't encourage you enough to practice proper oral hygiene to save your teeth from becoming chipped, cracked, or fractured among other serious issues. While there's no one to completely guarantee the prevention of dental accidents, the healthier your teeth are, the stronger they are, and subsequently the better they are at fighting against damage.
If you recently chipped a tooth, refer to our post last week on how to repair everything from a small chip to a serious fracture. If you have any more questions, call Water Tower Dental, we're happy to help.

Though there are plenty of foods that can harm your teeth such as candy, soda, and coffee, there are also many foods that are good for your teeth. If you want healthy teeth that fight bacteria, kill plaque, and build enamel, there are dozens of foods you can fit into your diet that will help. Today we'd like to tell you about five of the best foods (or food groups) for your teeth.

Foods That Are Good for Your Teeth

DAIRY

Teeth need a great deal of calcium to stay strong, there's almost no better food to get it than through dairy products. Milk and cheese especially are great for your teeth and jawbone. Calcium prevents tooth decay by protecting your teeth from periodontal disease, a form of gum disease, as well as maintaining healthy bone structure of the teeth and jaw. About one-third of your body's bones and teeth are made of calcium, so it's important to have a great deal of it in your system. Yogurt, tofu, and soy milk are also good sources of calcium.

SALMON

 
Another great food that’s rich in both calcium and Vitamin D is salmon. Without Vitamin D, your body cannot absorb and utilize the calcium that you've just consumed from your dairy products. Consuming food rich in Vitamin D is essential to healthy teeth. What better food to eat than salmon for your Vitamin D as it's also rich in Omega-3 fatty acids which help cognitive function, eye, cardiovascular, skin, and hair health.

CRUNCHY VEGGIES

 
Though mostly all vegetables are great for your teeth, there are many benefits to crunchier vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, and cucumber. Crunchy vegetables contain many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are all good for your health. Specifically to teeth, they contain Vitamin C, which helps prevent plaque and bacteria. As well, crunchy vegetables contain phosphorus, which is another major player in absorbing calcium. Last, crunchy vegetables promote and stimulate your salivary production. This is the body's natural way of washing debris and food from your teeth and gums while providing disease-fighting enzymes throughout your mouth to prevent infection.

ORANGES (CITRUS)

While crunchy vegetables are a good source of Vitamin C, oranges and other citrus fruits are your ultimate source. Vitamin C is extremely important to the teeth because of its ability to strengthen blood vessels and connective tissues. This is vital to keeping your teeth connected to your jaw. As well, vitamin C is an anti-inflammatory, which can help reduce and/or slow the progression of gingivitis.

ONIONS

Last, onions are a great source for anti-bacterial sulphur compounds, which play a major role in killing a lot of the bacteria that breed on your teeth and gums. If you don't mind just a little stinky breath for a minute, it's best to eat the onions raw. This will help you get the best from the vegetable to help prevent a fair amount of tooth decay.
There are dozens of other foods that are great for your teeth, gums, and jaw. Most importantly, without question, water is number 1. We didn't mention it in our list because it seems so obvious, but it really helps, especially avoiding sugary, acidic sodas and soft drinks that can cause detrimental damage to your teeth.
If you'd like to know more about healthy teeth care, make an appointment with Water Tower Dental Care, Chicago's #1 Dentists to discuss what steps to take to be on your way to a healthy lifestyle and a brighter smile.