Your doctor may talk to you about the importance of diet and exercise, testing for prostate cancer, and avoiding alcohol, tobacco, drugs and sexually transmitted diseases. Your doctor may also talk to you about ways to prevent injuries, such as using seat belts and having smoke detectors in your home. Shots are one of the most important preventive services for children. Shots protect children from diseases such as polio, measles and mumps. Your doctor will check your child to make sure he or she is growing and developing properly.
Dental health is also very important.
Your doctor will tell you what you can do to keep your child's teeth healthy. Your doctor will also talk to you about teaching your child healthy eating habits and exercise habits. Your doctor can tell you how to teach your child about the dangers of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. This handout provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to everyone. To find out if this handout applies to you and to get more information on this subject, talk to your family doctor.