The American Academy of Pediatric dentistry along with the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommend that a child's first visit to the dentist occur no later than their first birthday. The most important reason for this is to begin a thorough prevention program. At our office we refer to the first appointment as a "well baby check" and the visit is free of charge. Our goal is to provide information on how to begin caring for your child's teeth. Regular teeth cleanings and fluoride treatments generally begin around 2 ½ years of age once all the primary teeth erupt.

Regular dental visits help your child stay cavity free. Teeth cleanings remove debris that build up on the teeth, irritate the gums and cause decay. Fluoride treatments renew the fluoride content in the enamel, strengthening teeth and preventing cavities. Hygiene instructions improve your child's brushing and flossing, leading to cleaner teeth and healthier gums. Early preventive care will lead to less extensive, and less expensive dental treatment for your child.

At home clean your child's teeth and gums with a soft infant toothbrush and water or a non-fluoridated toothpaste. Unless advised by a dentist, do not use fluoridated toothpaste until your child is able to spit the majority of their toothpaste out, generally not until at least 3 years of age or older. Remember that most children do not have the dexterity to brush their teeth on their own effectively. Even as children become more independent continue to help with tooth brushing.

Dental caries is the most common chronic disease affecting children in the United States. It is 5 times more common than asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever. Statistics show that between 30 to 40% of 3-year-old children has at least one cavity. Once children have reached elementary school the percentage of children with at least one cavity is around 50%. Remember that some baby teeth are not replaced until a child is 12 to 14 years of age. These teeth serve a number of critical functions. Primary teeth:

• Maintain good nutrition by permitting your child to chew properly
• Are involved in speech development
• Help the permanent teeth by saving space and guiding them into place
• A healthy smile can also help children feel good about the way they look to others

For further information regarding your child's dental needs please visit Dental Speciality Associates website at www.dsadental.com or call the office at 760-942-1131.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that five cases of Haemophilus influenzae, type b (Hib), invasive disease (meningitis, pneumonia and epiglottitis) were confirmed in 2008 in Minnesota. This is the highest number of cases of this vaccine-preventable disease in children under 5 years of age that Minnesota has seen since 1991.

Three patients had received no vaccinations due to parent or guardian deferral or refusal of vaccinations. One of the unimmunized patients, a 7-month-old infant, died of Hib disease. Two of the remaining children received age-appropriate immunizations. One child, a 5-month-old, had received two Hib immunizations. The other child was 15 months old and was fully vaccinated for age but, subsequent to Hib infection, was diagnosed with an immune deficiency (hypogammaglobulinemia).

El Camino Pediatrics was chosen as the best pediatric group in Ranch and Coast Magazine's Readers Choice, Best of 2009. We would like to thank all our patients for their support over the years!

Dr. Christine Wood will be speaking on Preventive Nutrition for Children and Families at an event sponsored by the Cardiovascular Disease Foundation on Saturday, February 28th. The event is from 9 am to noon at the Carlsbad Senior Center at 799 PIne Ave in Carlsbad. There will be free screenings for cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure and body fat and free physician lectures.

There will also be free healthy snacks and kid's discovery stations so they can learn about health. Call 760-730-1471 or visit www.cvdf.org for more information. Click here for the flyer.