Dr. Jennifer Vitarelli

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

dental

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!

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.

What to Expect – Dental Visits

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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.