Blog - Preventive Dentistry

Your gums are part of the main support system for your teeth, along with your jawbone. If your gums are not healthy, your teeth could be at risk.

September is National Gum Care Month, and our goal is to educate you about gum health so you'll be able to pinpoint any signs of gum disease early on when it's much easier ...

Gum disease is a severe oral health condition that, left untreated, can lead to severe health complications, including tooth loss. Gum disease has also been linked to low birth weight in babies, certain types of dementia, heart complications, and more.

Our dentists in Metairie, LA offer preventive dentistry to lower your risks for gum disease. We also offer comprehensive treatments ...

Our mouths change as we age, and it’s essential we continue to care for our teeth and gums if we want to stay healthy and enjoy an attractive and functional smile. At Oak Family Dental, our friendly and compassionate team loves helping patients maintain their most dazzling smiles.

We offer various comprehensive dentistry services for patients of all ages so you ...

Everyone knows that their diet affects their body in various ways, and most people also know to avoid sugary foods and beverages if they want to keep their teeth cavity-free. However, it's not just avoiding sugar that's important. A good, nutritious diet equals healthier teeth and gums.

To help keep your teeth as healthy as possible, we recommend eating the following ...

We know how hard remembering to floss is for some of our patients. Our empathetic team of dentists understands that flossing is not always at the forefront of your mind. We all lead busy lives, and it’s easy for simple tasks to get pushed aside in favor of more pressing issues or because we’re exhausted at the end of the ...

Did you know that oral cancer is the silent killer of one American every hour? Oral cancer is the type that occurs in the head and neck region of your body, excluding your brain, which has its own category of cancer.

Surprisingly, this is cancer that we don't hear much about, and what's worse is that the statistics haven't improved much ...

Have you ever noticed bleeding along your gumline after brushing or flossing, or tender and painful gums, or even consistent bad breath? These are all signs you should not dismiss and ignore, they all happen to be early signs of gingivitis, which develops into periodontal disease without treatment. 

During these early (and completely reversible) stages, bacterial plaque builds up around your ...

Good dental care is more than simply brushing your teeth and flossing daily. For effective long-term dental care, we recommend that you have professional dental cleanings twice a year. Taking a proactive approach to your dental care can prevent and treat oral infection and disease. With bi-annual dental appointments at Oak Family Dental, you can achieve a cleaner, healthier smile. 

What ...

Oak Family Dental has been at the forefront of hygiene and safety precautions since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Troy Patterson researched effective preventative measures used in Asian countries during SARS. These precautions were equally utilized and effective against the Coronavirus. Oak Family Dental was the first dental office in the state to use these precautions, ...

It seems that nearly every day we see new research that points to the connection between oral health and your general health and well-being. This makes sense if you think about it – your mouth is the gateway to your body, and whatever is happening with your oral health is bound to impact other bodily systems as well.

A recent ...

It’s important for you to be educated about your oral health. Recently, many dental health organizations like the American Dental Society and the American Academy of Periodontology have found a definite connection between the health of your mouth and virtually every system of your body.

As a top dentist in Metairie, Dr. Margaret Patterson wants you to be informed about all ...

Has this ever happened to you? You’re having a nice conversation with someone, but you notice they’re slowly shying away from you while you’re speaking. Then the horrifying reality hits you – your breath is so bad they can’t even stand being close to you!

Call it kitten breath, dragon breath, or bottom of the birdcage – it’s just bad breath, ...

Did you know that more than half of American adults over the age of thirty have some form of periodontal (gum) disease? What's even more frightening is that most patients aren't aware that they have gum disease, and this is because there aren't a lot of symptoms or even pain associated with it at first. If left untreated however, gum ...

Do you ever notice that your gums bleed when you brush your teeth? Have you been accused of having bad breath? Do you notice that your gums are red or swollen? Believe it or not, these are the early indicators of gum disease, and this is a good time to visit your dental provider. Here we'll discuss how you can ...

Many people might be surprised to learn that there is a high number of people in this country who suffer from gum disease. It might even shock people to learn that gum disease is the number one cause of people losing their teeth. A lot of the people who have gum disease aren’t even aware they have it, ...

No one wants to get caught with bad breath! Odors from our mouths can be caused by numerous sources.   Some of these sources include dry mouth, bacteria present in the mouth in the form of gum disease or cavities, food caught between teeth, medical conditions and tobacco. 

Most people experience bad breath in the morning, commonly known as morning breath.  The ...