Dr. Jennifer Vitarelli

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

Dental Health Tips

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.

 

Oral Healthcare for Your Child

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children dentistIt’s very important that you have accurate information when it comes to infant oral health care – even though babies replace their teeth with adults ones, they are still vulnerable to infections and decay. It’s also possible for mothers to give harmful bacteria to their child. Because of this, it’s important to know how to take care of your child’s oral healthcare.

Your child’s healthcare starts with you

Healthy oral care starts with your own teeth, you can transfer bacteria through poor dietary habits, and by not brushing regularly.

Even though it’s extremely easy to transfer bacterial diseases to your child, it’s also very easy to prevent it. All you have to do is have a good diet, and take care of your oral health.

How to effectively keep your oral health great

  • Make sure that you schedule to have a dental cleaning and exam during different stages of your pregnancy. A simple cleaning decreases the potential for bacterial diseases and infection. You should not get any cosmetic procedures until after your baby is born.
  • Remember to book your child’s first dental and health check-up no later than 1 year since birth, make sure that you book it earlier If a tooth erupts.
  • During the first year, make sure that your child’s gums are cleaned at least twice a day in the morning and evening, along with a gentle clean after meals. This will help prevent bacterial infections and food buildup.
  • When your child starts teething, you should brush their teeth with high-quality products that do not contain fluoride. Use a soft brush that’s friendly to weak gums. A general rule to follow is to avoid fluoride whenever possible.

If you’re unsure about the amount of fluoride usage, whether in dental health products or through things like bottled water, you should talk to your dentist for more information about fluoride usage with your child.

Along with avoiding fluoride, you should try and avoid anything that will provide bacteria, such as sharing utensils, straws, or cups. Always remember that your bacterial infections are transferable.

If you put all of these tips into consideration, your child will have a happy and healthy mouth for many years to come!

How To Take Care Of Your Teeth

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Achieving healthy teeth takes a lifetime of care. Even if you’ve been told that you have nice teeth, it’s crucial to take the right steps every day to take care of them and prevent problems. This involves getting the right oral care products, as well as being mindful of your daily habits.

  1. Don’t go to bed without brushing your teeth
  • It’s no secret that the general recommendation is to brush at least twice a day. Still, many of us continue to neglect brushing our teeth at night. But brushing before bed gets rid of the germs and plaque that accumulate throughout the day.
  1. Brush effectively
  • The method you use to brush is extremely important – if you do a poor job of brushing your teeth, it’s almost as bad as not brushing them at all!

Remember to take your time, be careful, and to brush in circular motions to remove plaque. If left , the plaque can harden, which can lead to calculus buildup and gum disease.

  1. Don’t leave out your tongue!
  • Plaque will also build up on your tongue. This will not only lead to bad mouth odor, but it will also lead to other oral health issues. Make sure to carefully brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth.
  1. Use fluoride toothpaste products
  • When it comes to selecting the best toothpaste, there are more important elements to look for than whitening benefits and different flavors. No matter which product you choose, make sure it always contains fluoride.

Although fluoride has come under a bad rep by those worried about how it impacts other areas of health, fluoride remains a staple in oral health. This is due to  fluoride being the leading defense against tooth decay. It works by fighting germs that can produce tooth decay, along with generating a protective barrier for your teeth.

flossing-teeth

  1. Try flossing
  • The majority of people who brush regularly don’t choose to floss. Flossing is not just for getting those little pieces of Chinese food or broccoli that may be getting stuck in between your teeth, It’s a great way to stimulate the gums, reduce the amount of plaque, and help lower inflammation in the area.

Flossing once a day is usually enough to be rewarded with these benefits.

  1. Don’t let flossing difficulties stop you from flossing
  • Flossing may be difficult at times, especially for younger children and older adults with arthritis. Instead of giving up, look for tools that can assist you in flossing your teeth. Ready-to-use dental flossers from the drugstore can make a huge difference.
  1. Make sure to visit your dentist
  • Visiting your dentist regularly is an important part of maintaining a healthy set of teeth! Your local dentist will be able to keep you in the loop with any future issues, along with confirming that your teeth are in great condition.

 

At Vitarelli Dental, we have offices located in Saddle River and Madison New Jersey, get in touch today to see how we can help keep your teeth healthy and looking great!

 

Why You Should Visit Your Dentist Every 6 Months

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dental-visits-6-months

The majority of people do not enjoy having to sit in the dentist’s chair, but making consistent appointments with your dentist confirms that your teeth stay in perfect condition. The American Dental Association advises that you go to your dentist at least once a year, but going every 6 months will help prevent a whole range of oral-related issues from developing, some of these issues include tooth decay and gum disease. Here are five great points on why you should go see your dentist every six months.

  1. No Tooth Decay!

Dentists are able to quickly discover and treat tooth decay before it’s too late, the condition of your teeth can worsen every 6 months or so due to the plaque that builds up and damages your teeth, by visiting regularly you can get advice on how to prevent tooth decay from occurring. If this is left untreated, the condition causes incredible pain and dental cavities, along with inflamed gums.

  1. No Plaque!

Plaque is a sticky deposit that latches on to your teeth and gum line which is infested with bacteria. When you get more plaque it produces tartar, which gives your teeth a different color. It is advised to visit your dentist every 6 months to prevent the build-up of plaque.

  1. Stopping Gum Diseases

Dentists’ are able to discover the first signs of gum disease quickly, and are able to address the issue effectively if discovered early. If it’s left untreated, your gums will become red and infected, which will make it difficult to consume food or drinks. Because of this, we highly recommend visiting your local dentist every 6 months.

  1. Save Money

By regularly visiting your dentist, you’re saving money on the potential disaster that can occur by not looking after your mouth, gum disease and tooth decay are expensive procedures, by visiting your dentist you are able to know your teeth’s condition, and any emerging problems that can be fixed quickly.

  1. Smile More!

By visiting your dentist every 6 months, your teeth will be in the best possible condition, show off that great smile! Your white, glimmering teeth are something to be proud of.

At Vitarelli Dental, we are a local dentist based in NJ, get in touch to see how we can help today!