A doctor of dental surgery graduate of the Louisiana State University School of Dentistry, Dr. Kathryn Philpott-Hill worked with patients at her own private dental practice for 12 years in Sylva, North Carolina. In this role, Dr. Kathryn Philpott-Hill provided oral health care to adults and children of all ages and gave advice on how to best care for their teeth.
Even for infants, proper oral health care is important. Though the youngest babies don’t have teeth yet, that doesn’t mean that their mouths are immune from developing gum disease or other problems. Until they are six months old, it is recommended that a baby’s gums be gently wiped with a moist cloth after each feeding.
It’s also important to make sure that items like bottle nipples and pacifiers are cleaned with sterile implements. To avoid the spread of bacteria and viruses to your baby, resist the temptation to check the temperature of a bottle by putting it in your mouth, and don’t clean bottles or pacifiers with the mouth.
