Dr. Jennifer Vitarelli

Madison Dental Designs (973) 377-0913
Saddle River Dental Care (201) 327-2202

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4 Reasons Why You Should Visit a Family Dentist

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Everybody needs to pay a visit to the dentist on the regular. Staying on top of your dental health is crucial. No matter how old you are, getting your teeth checked is recommended by health professionals everywhere. If you visit a general dentist, however, you may not be able to knock out the entire family’s biannual dental visits in one go. This is because a general dentist only focuses on maintaining your healthy smile and do not necessarily take care of your entire family’s dental care habits.

If you want your whole family to have good oral health, it may be time to look about for a good family dentist. That way, you can bring your dad, grandpa, or children to see one professional who you know well. There is no need to jet around to different dental offices around town. A family dentist knows how to teach your kids to brush as well as ensure that your elderly mother knows how to clean her dentures.

Not convinced? Here are a few reasons why you should visit a family dentist:

A family dentist can take care of patients of all ages

When a kid enters a dental clinic, chances are that they are filled with a sense of dread. Visiting the dentist can be rather scary. If your child is acquainted with one office and one dentist, however, biannual visits may not be as bad. Therefore, it’s important for you to choose the right dentist for your child. A family dentist knows how to handle patients of all ages, young or old. You can be certain that your family dentist will not act irritated or be rude to your child.

A family dentist builds relationships with their clients over time, meaning that they are particularly wonderful for kids who have dental anxiety. They will be more comfortable visiting somebody they know and being somewhere that they are familiar with.

A family dentist knows your family’s oral records

When you build a relationship with a family dentist, you know that you will be working with them for years to come. Your family dentist will be familiar with your dental history and that of your family, making it easy for them to know what conditions they need to check for. Let’s say that you have had an implant done in the past. If you switch to another dentist, they will not know have a comprehensive knowledge of any complications you had and won’t be able to check the implant for you as well.

A family dentist can provide all major dental procedures

Some people are under the impression that a family dentist is unable to go beyond basic checkups. This is a misconception. They can perform all major dental procedures that you need including x-rays, extractions, braces, and dentures. Keep in mind that you may be referred to a specialist for something that requires a professional in the required area. For the most part, however, you can rest assured because your family dentist will know what to do!

A family dentist will save your family more time

If you choose to see a general dentist, each family member will have to make their own appointment. With a family dentist, however, appointments can be scheduled for everyone at once. Your entire family can get your dental care done and then celebrate over some ice cream afterward! This is a great way to make the most of the time spent and save gas costs on commuting together.

Vitarelli Dental is a dental office based in Madison NJ, get in touch today to see how we can help you maintain a great set of teeth.

Three Benefits of Visiting a Family Dentist

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Recent studies show that more than one-fourth of US adults have untreated tooth decay. Nearly half of these adults show signs of gum disease. These studies also suggest that complete tooth loss among older people has steadily declined over time; however, there are still existing disparities among population groups. The worst case scenario when it comes to dental concerns is oral cancer and chronic diseases brought by neglect in oral care.

In this day and age, dental offices are readily available in practically every nook and cranny of the city. So why do some families ignore the need for oral care?

Well, for one, going to the dentist can be quite traumatizing, especially for little ones. Imagine holding your mouth open for an hour or so while you undergo a dental cleaning. Worse, imagine feeling a dental device being used to get a grip of your decayed tooth before it uproots it from your gums! If you don’t know the dentist who will be doing the work, the thought can be rather scary, whether you’re a kid or an adult.

The logical course of action, then, is building a relationship with a dentist so that you know and trust them to take good care of your teeth. For this reason, it’s best to have a family dentist who can handle all the dental services for everyone in the family — from dental check-ups and oral prophylaxis to tooth extractions and having dental braces done. Here, we will tackle the benefits of having a family dentist to take care of your pearly whites:

Convenience and Reliability

One benefit that you can have from having a family dentist is the convenience that you can get and the reliability that comes with it.

When it comes to convenience, having a family dentist will save you from the hassle of finding the nearest dental clinic and choosing a professional dentist to do your dental work for you. You may already have established a good relationship with the dental assistant who can prioritize you on the appointment list. If you do dental work on a regular basis (let’s say you have braces and need monthly adjustments), he or she will already take note of your appointment and maybe even send a reminder beforehand for your dental work!

In terms of reliability, you will be assured of your dentist’s expertise. Since you and your family have been getting quality dental services from the same clinic, your dentist will already be aware of your dental history, have a proven track record, and know what needs to be done. He or she can even make suggestions and recommendations regarding your oral care. In the same way, you will already know the professional background of your dentist. The mere fact that you have chosen him or her your dentist is because he or she has proven themselves to be highly reliable all this time.

Trust and Confidence

One good thing about having a family dentist is having trust and confidence in the services that you’re getting from them. As mentioned earlier, dental treatment can be quite scary. It can be even more traumatizing for little ones.

Since getting dental work done can be rather critical – knowing that it entails pain and blood, and it cannot even lead to a serious condition if not done properly – having utmost trust and confidence in your dentist will surely make a difference. You won’t need to spend days mentally preparing yourself prior to having oral surgery when you know that you’re in good hands.

A Sense of Family

Finally, your dentist is more than just a person who provides oral care. Having a family dentist leads to a good, lasting relationship. As with a family doctor who takes care of everyone at home, a family dentist provides oral care for the entire family as well. Not only will your dentist keep your teeth strong and healthy, but they will put a smile on your face, as you leave the clinic more confident in your smile than ever!

Vitarelli Dental is a dental office based in Madison NJ, get in touch today to see how we can help you maintain a great set of teeth.

5 Ways Dental Cleaning Helps You

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Dental cleaningMany people treat a visit to the dentist for some general maintenance with the same enthusiasm that they would a hissing cobra. You may think you’ll grow into the semi-annual visits with age, but that’s often not so. To preserve a bright, white smile, you need to acknowledge the importance of a regular visit to the dentist. Here are some of the reasons why you should take the semi-annual trip.

1.)    Prevent cavities

Plaque build-up on your pearly whites is the most common source of tooth decay. The acidic material gnaws away at the covering of your teeth, giving cavities a place to take root. By brushing properly, flossing daily, and having regular dental maintenance, you can remove plaque from the surface of your teeth.

2.)    Stop tooth loss

Besides making room for cavities, plaque build-up also sets the stage for gum disease. Gum disease moves further into your teeth, and even to your gum line as it progresses. From there, it has access to your jawbone, and sometimes causes your tooth to detach from its root and fall out. You can lower the probability of having to experience this nightmare by maintaining good oral hygiene and making sure you have regular professional cleaning.

3.)    Brighten your smile

Your teeth are vulnerable to color change as a result of the consumption of certain food and drink. These unsightly stains can be removed during routine dental cleaning, leaving you with beautiful pearly whites.

4.)    Boost your overall health

Research has indicated that there is a relationship between the wellbeing of your teeth and your overall wellbeing. When you faithfully visit the dentist for cleanings, you also benefit from a reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes. Some ailments and conditions are detectable even in your teeth, and your dentist may be able to catch symptoms during a regular visit.

5.)    Reduce bad breath

Nobody likes halitosis. The best way to avoid constant smelly breath is by developing good oral hygiene habits. That being said, you can only do so much by brushing and flossing regularly. To really make sure your mouth is healthy and smelling fresh, don’t forget to take your regular trip to the dentist!

Vitarelli Dental is a dental office based in Madison NJ, get in touch today to see how we can help you maintain a great set of teeth.

Why you Should Floss

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why-you-should-flossSome people think that flossing is just something extra to do for great oral health, but dentists around the world will always tell you to floss daily. It’s not a substitute for brushing, it’s actually a partner. There are many reasons why you should floss on a daily basis, and here are some of them:

It prevents bacteria

When brushing your teeth, you are mostly touching and cleaning the surface of your teeth. Though the bristles might be able to reach the in-between parts of your teeth, they are unable to properly reach them fully. This is where flossing comes in.

  • The reason why people floss is to reach the spaces in between your teeth. Millions of bacteria and harmful microorganisms live in between your teeth. The only way to reach those parts well is to floss.

Flossing works because it prevents bacteria buildup and can remove leftover food debris in areas where your toothbrush won’t normally be able to reach. It disrupts the buildup of bacteria to prevent them from turning into plaque that could stain and turn your teeth bad if left unchecked.

Prevents tartar from building up

  • The plaque will eventually build up in your teeth. Plaque is s substance that damages and turns your teeth yellow, it can even harden into tartar if left unchecked. If you want to remove plaque that builds up in between your teeth, you need to floss on a daily basis.

Can help freshen your breath up

  • You might be wondering why your breath is bad at times, even after you brushed your teeth a few hours before. You might be dedicated when it comes to brushing your teeth, but you could still have bad breath if you don’t floss. While you may have cleaned and removed any excess bacteria on the surface of your teeth, there are still bacteria and leftover food debris trapped in between them. When they turn bad, they will also turn your breath bad.

You may have pearly white teeth but, at the end of the day, you’ll still have bad breath if you can’t remove the bacteria trapped in between your teeth.

It’s effective together with brushing

  • Brushing alone is never enough. It should be in unison with flossing so that you’ll end up with better dental health. Brushing your teeth alone is like washing only the surface of your drinking glass without trying to clean the inside, which is likely to have more bacteria. In dental health, the bristles of your toothbrush have their limits. They can’t clean hard-to-reach places that only flossing can.

It can help prevent gum disease

  • Plaque doesn’t just turn your teeth bad and unhealthy, plaque can also affect your gums as well. Neglecting to floss or to properly look after your teeth can lead to dangerous gum diseases that could cause your gums to inflame due to infection. This happens when the plaque eats away the ends of the gums that hold your teeth together. This may lead to your teeth falling out and can cause extreme decay in your overall dental health.

At Vitarelli Dental, we’re a dental office based in Madison NJ, get your checkup today!

How to get rid of tooth cavities

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cavityOne of the biggest misconceptions in people’s minds is that tooth cavities can’t be healed or reversed naturally.

You will normally get a tooth cavity due to an unhealthy diet, and irregular brushing – in this blog we will look at some solutions on how to heal your cavities naturally.

Stop eating sugar

  • Sugar is the biggest reason for tooth decay, if you want to have healthy, cavity-free teeth, then you need to have a good diet. Sugar feeds on oral bacteria that stops a healthy flow of dental fluids. It’s also extremely acidic, it will literally reduce the mineral content in your teeth, which creates tooth decay.
  • Because of this, you should stay away from eating sugar regularly, this means soda, candy, and baked goods that contain a lot of sugar. You should also caution yourself when using honey, syrup, and fruit juices – all of these contain a high amount of sugar, which is why they are so tasty!

You should also watch out for artificial sweeteners, they are sold as ‘the solution’ to sugar but in reality, it’s just as bad as eating sugar due to health implications.

Stop eating food that contains phytic acid

  • Phytic acid is a mineral blocker that’s found in food like nuts, beans, and grains, it can cause serious problems for your teeth and diet If not consumed in moderation. Ironically, the methods of how these foods were produced in the past were much better at eliminating phytic acid, but with modern robotic factories replaced old techniques, the acid has emerged as an issue again.
  • Phytic acid not only prevents your teeth from absorbing the minerals from other foods, but it also stops minerals flowing to your body and bones! The other negatives of phytic acid is a lack of appetite, nutrient issues, and tooth decay. You should limit the number of nuts and grains you consume because of this.

Eat raw dairy and nutrient-rich food

  • Raw dairy is the best product for your teeth, It contains vitamins and minerals that help maintain a healthy set of teeth, and provides a great dental fluid flow to prevent cavities. Dairy is packed with calcium, magnesium, and vitamins like K2, D3, and more. You should have raw dairy products at least weekly, good sources are goat milk, cheeses, and organic butter.

Other solutions to tooth decay

Another solution is to go to your local dentist to see if it can be taken out, Vitarelli Dental is based in Madison, NJ – get in touch or stop by to see how we can help!

How to take care of your baby’s teeth

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baby teethWhen your baby’s teeth start to come through, it becomes time to start taking care of them. Although the first set will only be there for a short time, the condition of the teeth is vital to the condition of your baby’s gyms and future teeth. In this article, we will go through some ways that you can ensure a healthy set of teeth for your baby.

Take care of your baby’s gums before the teeth come

  • You can begin by cleaning your child’s mouth before the teeth come through. Clean the gums after feeling with a soft, warm cloth. You can additionally purchase thimble-type devices that fit over your index finger, this can be used to rub off any food stuck to gums.

When they come through, take care of them!

  • When the teeth finally come through, you should begin to take care of them right away – most parents assume that baby teeth aren’t vital to the baby’s health as they will soon be replaced by permanent teeth. But the first teeth set spacing for permanent ones, they also help the baby learn how to chew and talk – if you don’t take care of them they will decay and cause infections like gingivitis, which will affect the spacing for the next set of teeth.

Watch out for Cavities

  • If you begin to get signs of cavities, the first thing that you will see is the color distortion and minor pitting. The reason why this can happen is by giving your baby a bottle of milk or juice before bed. You shouldn’t leave your baby with a bottle for a long period of time – especially if you discover that they’re no longer feeding and is just using the bottle.

Start brushing with toothpaste at age 2

  • When your baby’s teeth have grown fully, it’s time to start brushing them regularly! You can use a small part of fluoride toothpaste (roughly the size of a grain of rice) twice a day.

Watch your baby’s fluoride intake

  • Even if your baby isn’t using a fluoride toothpaste, they should get enough fluoride from something else – it’s a vital ingredient to stopping tooth decay, your baby can get it from drinking tap water if necessary.

Go to your dentist

Your local dentist will be able to examine and check your baby’s teeth to ensure that they are in the best quality, Vitarelli Dental is a dentist office based in Madison, NJ – get in touch today to see how we can help your baby.

How to Treat Tooth Decay

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tooth decayOne of the biggest misconceptions in people’s minds is that tooth cavities can’t be healed or reversed naturally.

You will normally get a tooth cavity due to an unhealthy diet, and irregular brushing – in this blog we will look at some solutions on how to heal your cavities naturally.

Stop eating sugar

  • Sugar is the biggest reason for tooth decay, if you want to have healthy, cavity-free teeth, then you need to have a good diet. Sugar feeds on oral bacteria that stops a healthy flow of dental fluids. It’s also extremely acidic, it will literally reduce the mineral content in your teeth, which creates tooth decay.
  • Because of this, you should stay away from eating sugar regularly, this means soda, candy, and baked goods that contain a lot of sugar. You should also caution yourself when using honey, syrup, and fruit juices – all of these contain a high amount of sugar, which is why they are so tasty!

You should also watch out for artificial sweeteners, they are sold as ‘the solution’ to sugar but in reality, it’s just as bad as eating sugar due to health implications.

Stop eating food that contains phytic acid

  • Phytic acid is a mineral blocker that’s found in food like nuts, beans, and grains, it can cause serious problems for your teeth and diet If not consumed in moderation. Ironically, the methods of how these foods were produced in the past were much better at eliminating phytic acid, but with modern robotic factories replaced old techniques, the acid has emerged as an issue again.

Phytic acid not only prevents your teeth from absorbing the minerals from other foods, but it also stop minerals flowing to your body and bones! The other negatives of phytic acid is a lack of appetite, nutrient issues, and tooth decay. You should limit the number of nuts and grains you consume because of this.

Eat raw dairy and nutrient-rich food

  • Raw dairy is the best product for your teeth, It contains vitamins and minerals that help maintain a healthy set of teeth, and provides a great dental fluid flow to prevent cavities. Dairy is packed with calcium, magnesium and vitamins like K2, D3, and more. You should have raw dairy products at least weekly, good sources are goat milk, cheeses, and organic butter.

Other solutions to tooth decay

Another solution is to go to your local dentist to see if it can be taken out, Vitarelli Dental is based in Madison, NJ – get in touch or stop by to see how we can help!

Regular Dentist Checkups in Madison, NJ

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CheckupsNot many people enjoy being in a dentist chair, but having regular appointments scheduled with your dentist guarantees that your teeth stay in the best condition possible. The Americans Dental Association says that you should visit your dentist once a year as a minimum, but visiting once every few months will help eliminate any problems that might arise, such as tooth decay and gum disease. Here are four great reasons to visit your dentist more regularly:

Stop Tooth Decay

  • Your dentist will be able to swiftly identify tooth decay – which is the destruction of the outer layer of your teeth, this is caused by eating sugary snacks. This condition can get drastically worse after 6 months, which Is why visiting your dentist more than once per year is a great idea. If you leave it untreated, it will cause pain and dental cavities, along with irritation in the gums.

Stops Plaque from Spreading

  • Plaque is what you get on your teeth usually after eating food, it’s sticky and will stay on your teeth if you don’t regularly brush. Plaque can become harmful bacteria, so it’s a great idea to regularly brush to avoid the damage that Plaque can do.

If left untreated, it can cause tartar, which will make your teeth yellow. Going to the dentist regularly will prevent plaque from spreading, and will help maintain your teeth’s healthy condition.

It Prevents Gum Disease

  • Your dentist will be able to find out if you have signs of gum disease, long before it results in a serious illness. If you visit your dentist regularly, you’ll be able to tackle it head-on without having to worry about your gums for the foreseeable future.

If you leave it untreated, gum disease will make your gums bright red and swollen, it can even make it very painful to consume food and drinks. Your dentist will help you prevent gum disease, this includes regular brushing, flossing, mouthwash, etc.

Save Money Long-Term

  • Finding oral issues early on can save you from a huge hospital bill, consistent care and regular maintenance of your mouth reduce the risk of getting oral-related diseases like gum disease and tooth decay. You are also more likely to not need any dental work such as a tooth extraction, by visiting your dentist regularly, you reduce your medical bills over the long-term.

At Vitarelli Dental, we strive in helping people maintain healthy teeth, we’re located in Madison NJ – get in touch today to see how we can help.

Why Brushing Your Teeth Twice a Day is Important

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brushing-teeth-twice-a-dayOne of the staples in your life should be brushing your teeth twice a day, but surprisingly as we grow older, we get lazier and assume it’s not that big of a deal.

But on the contrary, it’s very important! There are many reasons as to why it’s vital that you brush your teeth twice a day, some of them you might already know, and some of them are less commonly known. Here are some reasons as to why you should brush your teeth twice per day:

Keeping your breath fresh

  • If you don’t brush your teeth twice a day, you will build harmful bacteria in your mouth which can cause a multitude of issues, including bad breath – if you want to prevent bacterial diseases, you should always brush twice a day.

Brushing twice per day stops gum disease

  • If you don’t brush regularly, then you have a good chance of building up plaque on the teeth you neglect, when this happens, the baseline of your teeth will become yellow, which is the first sign that gum disease is near – this can lead to more serious illnesses like gingivitis, you can prevent this by brushing twice per day.

No teeth stains

  • Toothpaste contains ingredients that remove debris and bacterial stains, if you don’t brush regularly, your teeth will keep the yellowness and may develop into more serious illnesses.

You’re less likely to die

The bacteria that are built from your mouth can enter your blood if unchecked, this increases the chance of heart issues, along with an increase of cholesterol in the arteries. If you don’t brush twice a day, then the chances of a stroke or heart attack increases.

You’ll be more attractive

  • If we’re honest, nobody wants to kiss someone that has bad breath or food inside their teeth, you should be flossing to remove food from your teeth, and brushing regularly to prevent bad breath.

You save money long-term

  • It’s much cheaper to prevent bacterial infections or oral issues, hospitals and doctors are expensive, if you brush only once a day, you’re greatly increasing the risk of diseases, which will result in your medical bill being higher than it should.

At Vitarelli Dental, we can ensure that you maintain a healthy set of teeth with a yearly checkup, this helps us fix any issues that might arise before it’s too late, and it gives you peace of mind.

We’re based in Madison & Saddle River NJ – get in touch today to see how we can help.

How to Chew Your Food Properly

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boy chewingWhen tucking into your food or having a quick after-workout snack, you are most likely focusing on making your taste buds happy and giving your body energy. But, regardless of the difference between eating a sugary snack or a healthy meal, the way you chew might have an effect on your enjoyment of the meal.

Chewing seems simple and natural, but over time you can learn bad chewing habits that can affect your oral and gut health.

 

Why you Chew Food

  • Since the beginning of man, chewing food has been the natural way to break food down into smaller pieces, which allows for easy digestion. Of course, some food takes a different amount of chewing to break down than others, and early humans most likely used their teeth to crush plants and get through to meat.
  • These days, the process is much more modern. Meat is more tender, high quality and is already produced to cook, but it’s still important to consider what you are doing to your oral and digestive health by quickly consuming food without effective chewing:
  • Chewing helps tell your body that the digestive system needs to be ready, when your body releases saliva it helps break down the food into tiny pieces, it’ll also help keep the stomach calm before digestion, which will allow the food and nutrients go through easily.
  • If you chew slowly, it gives you stomach enough time to alert your brain for satiety, it’s known that if you chew your food slowly, it reduces your food intake between meals, as you will feel more full.

When food particles are left on your teeth, they can produce bacteria which can cause tooth decay. If you chew slower, it produces more saliva which will help keep your teeth cleaner, and provide the pH for your mouth after consuming acids and sugars.

How to Chew Properly

  • There’s no perfect routine for eating properly, due to the many different types of food and the condition of your teeth need to be taken into consideration. There are, though, some tips that can help you chew better. You can, for example, chew 20 times before swallowing to ensure that the food has been properly made into particles.
  • If you find that you are eating too fast, you can set some rules that will help you chew more considerately. As an example, you can only eat at arranged times while sitting at a table, avoid various activities when eating, and take time to focus on your food and how much you are eating.

Chewing might seem like an easy task, but the method to which you eat can be a big factor in your overall health. Time to slow everything down, eat carefully, and chew mindfully, and you could see yourself eat less, and enjoy your meals considerably more.