dental care Archives - Dr. Jennifer Vitarelli

How to get rid of tooth cavities

June 8, 2018June 6, 2018 by chris

One 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.

Why Brushing Your Teeth Twice a Day is Important

May 2, 2018May 2, 2018 by chris

brushing-teeth-twice-a-day One 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

April 23, 2018April 22, 2018 by chris

boy chewing When 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.

What to Expect – Dental Visits

April 8, 2018 by chris

What Happens During a Dental Visit?

Firstly, it is important to look for a dentist that will make you feel comfortable. Once you’ve found a dentist you like, your next step is to schedule for a check-up before a dental issue occurs.

When you visit a dentist for the first time, they will collect your health history. On future appointments, if your health status has changed make sure to tell them specifically what has changed, so that they can evaluate you again if needed.

Most dental appointments are having a checkup. Regular checkups (ideally every six months), helps your teeth stay cleaner, stronger and prevents painful problems from occurring.

A thorough cleaning

A complete cleansing is always included in a checkup, either from your dentist or a dental hygienist. Using special instruments, a dental hygienist will scrape below the gum line, removing built-up plaque and tartar that causes gum disease, cavities, and bad breath. Your dentist or hygienist may also floss and make your teeth shine!

A full examination

Your dentist will undergo a complete examination of your teeth, gums and mouth to look for signs of disease or other emerging issues. They will aim to help maintain your good oral health, and to avoid problems before they become serious.

X-rays

Depending on your age, there are chances that potential diseases and symptoms will come up on your routine checkup, your dentist may recommend X-rays. X-rays can determine problems such as damage to jawbones, impacted teeth, abscesses, cysts, tumors, and decay between the teeth. A high-tech dental clinic that uses machines will release no radiation. For assurance, you should always wear a lead apron when having an X-ray. If you are pregnant, tell your dentist, as X-rays should only be performed in an emergency situation.

Your dentist may request for a panoramic x-ray, or panorex. This type of film gives a complete view of your upper and lower jaw in a single picture, this helps the dentist examine your entire mouth and see where the issues specifically are.

How Long Should I Visit?

If your teeth and gums are in good condition, you don’t need to return for three to six months. If additional treatments are required, as an example, to treat a cavity, remove a wisdom tooth, or repair a broken crown, you should make an appointment before leaving the office. Don’t forget to ask your dentist any questions, this is your opportunity to get knowledge on your dental hygiene.