Updates from the American Academy of Pediatrics
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends annual physical exams. Children's Medical Group-Westbrook Pediatrics physicians support the American Academy of Pediatrics and suggest you call the office early for best appointment selection.
UPDATE. AAP now recommends keeping your toddler in a rear-facing car seat until the age of 2 (not age 1).
To keep up to date or to research these topics go to: http://www.aap.org/parents.html.
Dental and oral health for your infant and toddler
Tooth decay is the most common disease in American children. It is five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than allergies. Early and regular dental care is important and can help prevent expensive dental problems in the future.
What can you do?
Tooth decay may start as soon as your child's first tooth comes through. Here are some simple things you can do to prevent early tooth decay.
Birth to 6 months old
- Never let your baby fall asleep at night or during naps with a bottle. Never put fruit juice or sweetened liquids in a bottle.
- Avoid passing bacteria that can cause decay on to your child. Parents should avoid testing bottles, sharing spoons or cleaning a pacifier in their mouth.
- Wipe your baby's mouth with a damp washcloth or gauze pad after feeding and before bedtime.
- Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay. It is often added to your city's water supply. Check with your doctor or dentist about your city's water supply to find out if it contains fluoride. Some bottled water contains fluoride, but others do not. Prescription and over-the-counter fluoride products are available but only should be used as your doctor recommends. Fluoride also can be painted on a child's teeth several times a year to help prevent decay. (Note: Westbrook Pediatrics now offers a fluoride varnish. Ask us about this treatment at your next visit.)
Six months to one year old
- As your child's first tooth comes in, brush your baby's teeth at least twice a day (after breakfast and just before bedtime.) Use a small, soft-bristle toothbrush and water or toothpaste. Ask your dentist about using toothpaste with fluoride.
- Once the first tooth comes in, schedule an exam with a pediatric dentist.
One year old and older
- Take your child for a dental check-up every six months. If you think your child has a dental problem, contact your dentist right away.
- When your child can rinse his or her mouth, and has most of his or her baby (primary) teeth, he or she may be able to use a small amount of fluoride toothpaste. Ask your dentist when you should start using fluoride toothpaste with your child.
- Floss your child's teeth when all the baby teeth have come in, usually between 2 and 3 years old.
Bug safety
The mosquito, the state bird of Wisconsin, has returned.
Bug bites during the summer months are definitely an annoyance. But bugs also can pass along dangerous diseases. It's important to use the appropriate products to protect yourself and your family.
Insect repellants containing DEET are the most effective products against ticks and mosquitoes. The percentage of DEET in a product indicates how long its effective. For instance, 10 percent works for two hours, 24 percent for five hours.
Products with more than 30 percent DEET shouldn't be used on children. Products containing DEET shouldn't be used on children younger than 6 months old. You also should not apply more than once daily, use under clothing or on the hands or face for children.
Avoid applying insect repellants to wounds, cuts or irritated skin. Always remember to wash your child's skin with soap and water after coming inside. You also should wash clothing before it is worn again.
Avoid products that combine DEET with sunscreen. The DEET component may reduce the effectiveness of the SPF. It also may cause overexposure to DEET from multiple applications since sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours. Remember, insect repellants with DEET should not be used more than once daily.
Tick season
Summer is tick season in Wisconsin. Any contact with plants, trees and shrubs, even playing in the yard, can expose you and your family to ticks.
It's a good idea to carefully inspect yourself and your children each day when you participate in outdoor activities, especially when it's warmer than 45 F. Frequent tick checks including a full-body exam should be done each night before going to bed. When done regularly, these exams can be the most effective prevention method for tick-borne diseases.
Should you find a tick on your child's body, stay calm. To easily remove the tick, follow these steps:
- Using a pair of pointed, precision tweezers, grasp the tick's head or mouthparts at the point where it enters the skin. Don't grasp the tick by its body.
- Without jerking, pull the tick firmly and steadily directly outward. Don't twist the tick out. Don't apply petroleum jelly, a hot match, alcohol or any other irritant to the tick in an attempt to remove it. This may cause the tick to embed further under the skin.
- Place the tick in a vial or jar of alcohol to kill it.
- Clean the bite wound with a disinfectant.
Removing the tick during the first 48 hours after attachment is the best way to reduce the risk of infection. Be sure to check the tick after you remove it to ensure the entire tick was removed.
Contact your health care provider for further evaluation if you believe any tick fragments remain in the skin. Remember, always contact your doctor with questions or concerns regarding tick bites and removal. You also should call if you have any unusual symptoms during the following weeks.
View a video from the American Lyme Disease Foundation on how to properly remove a tick.
