High Park Dental Care

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2126 Bloor Street W. Toronto, Ontario M6S 1M8

Tel: 416.766.6383

Hours of Operation
Monday	9am-5pm
Tuesday	9am-5pm
Wednesday	9am-5pm
Thursday	9am-5pm
Friday	9am-1pm
Off hour appointments available by request

November is well under way and aside from the rain the temperatures have been quite comfortable. I wanted to thank you for all of your suggestions on newsletter topics. The topic of baby teeth has come up repeatedly in your suggestions, so that is where I will begin this month's issue.

Baby teeth play a significant role in your child's mouth. In addition to chewing food they are important in speech. They serve as "spacers" that allow for the proper positioning of the permanent teeth. They can be a factor in self esteem. Neglect of baby teeth can result in the loss of one or more of the above as well as causing unnecessary discomfort for your child.

Sometimes very young children suffer from extensive tooth decay due to being put to sleep with a bottle or pacifier dipped in something sweet. The only thing put in your baby's bottle for the night should be water. Even natural juices have sugars that can cause decay.

In this issue we will look at another side of sodas and discuss the causes of tooth decay.

Please let me know if you find these topics interesting and feel free to offer me suggestions as to what you would like to see in future issues.

Neil Hahn D.D.S. and
the High Park Dental Care Team


	Sugar drinks such as sodas and pops have been getting a lot of attention lately. *They are even considering a warning label similar to cigarettes on their packaging.* If you're like me and enjoy the occasional pop with lunch or during the work day here are some tips to limit the damage to your teeth.

For starters try the sugar free versions, they are less likely to cause cavities (although they still damage enamel) and drink your pop during a meal.

Follow a pop with a good drink of water to rinse the mouth clean and brush your teeth if possible after your done.

Most importantly, strictly limit your pop consumption.

Remember that it is high in sugar and lacks nutritional value - once it passes through your teeth, the rest of your body has to deal with it and that's a whole other story.

Tooth Decay describes the break down of strong healthy teeth over time. Your tooth's surface is composed of a hard mineral coating called enamel. Enamel is the hardest tissue in your body, but by no means indestructible. Actually, enamel is exposed to bacteria all day which produce plaque. Plaque is the substance that covers your teeth and eats away at the enamel causing the holes known as cavities.

Brushing your teeth, flossing and regular dental visits will help keep plaque under control. Leaving plaque undisturbed on your teeth leads to tartar buildup which brushing and flossing alone can not remove. Letting plaque get out of control can lead to many oral problems ranging from bad breath and cavities to gum disease and tooth loss.

Even teeth with fillings aren't immune to plaque. Any of the problems listed above can occur on these teeth as well. Under your enamel is a layer of the tooth made of dentin. Dentin is also high in mineral content, but much softer and more vulnerable to plaque. Once a cavity has reached this layer it develops more rapidly and can affect the nerve of the tooth. This is why dentists often fill small cavities long before they reach a level where they become problematic.

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