Ask Dr. Brown: “Where can I get more info about braces?”

Great question! Besides on the BFO website, which provides you with a plethora of information about all things braces and Invisalign, we would like to point you to a helpful website: Our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, have provided lots of important information about everything braces, including myths and facts of orthodontics, tips for a better orthodontic experience and cool webisodes about orthodontics.

We encourage you to check out AAO today and feel free to contact us if you have any questions here on our blog or on our Facebook page.

Hope this helps,

Dr. Brown & the BFO Team

Are you wearing your mouthguard? From Dr. Brown

With fall sports almost here for a lot of our patients at Brown Family Orthodontics, we thought today would be a great time to remind all our young athletes in treatment to take care of both their mouth and appliances while participating in sports – especially contact sports – this fall.

One of the most important pieces of sports equipment you can wear on the field is a mouthguard. A well-fitted mouthguard, which we’re happy to provide, allows you to breathe and speak more clearly, in addition to protecting your mouth and braces. Only by using a mouth guard can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. The next time you’re in for a visit with Dr. Brown, we encourage you to ask us for a mouthguard! In addition, the American Association of Orthodontists has five quick tips for keeping kids safe during sport activities.

• Wear a helmet
• Stretch before and after a game or practice
• Wear protective eyewear
• Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
• Be observant, even as a spectator

We hope you’re enjoying your summer, and invite you all to share your summer photos on our Facebook page!

Play it safe this spring, from Dr. Brown

With spring here, many of our patients will once again pick up the ball, bring the bat out of seasonal retirement.

So, today, Dr. Brown and our dedicated team at BFO urge our young athletes to play it safe when out on the field. According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, children, high-school athletes and adults will have more than 5,000,000 teeth knocked out in sporting events this year.

Here are a few ways to ensure your mouth’s safety this spring, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists:

1. Wear mouth guards for contact sports such as baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse.
2. Wear a helmet
3. Wear protective eyewear
4. Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
5. Be alert, even as a spectator

We hope that helps. Protective gear is vital for anyone engaging in tooth or mouth-threatening activities. If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact Brown Family Orthodontics.

Stay safe and have fun!

How will YOUR smile look after orthodontic treatment at BFO?

At Brown Family Orthodontics, we know it's sometimes hard to believe the transformation your smile undergoes during orthodontic treatment. Our team at BFO love to see our patients’ smiles light up when they see their new smile in the mirror for the first time. For those of you who haven’t yet started or finished your orthodontic treatment with Dr. Brown, have you ever wondered what your new smile might look like after treatment?

The American Association of Orthodontists recently launched a new tool called “Virtual Smiles,” which shows what your smile might look like after orthodontic treatment. Check out the Virtual Smiles tool, and call us at BFO to get started on improving your smile today!

At Brown Family Orthodontics, October is National Orthodontic Health Month!

Did you know October is National Orthodontic Health Month? This month-long event is organized by our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO.

Drs. Ed & Jessica Brown and our team at BFO realize this is a great opportunity for us and to raise awareness about the importance of oral hygiene. National Orthodontic Health Month also aims to recognize the dedicated work of orthodontists like Dr. Brown and other dental professional in greater New Orleans.

The AAO recommends patients avoid the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients:

• Caramel
• Nuts
• Popcorn (including un-popped kernels)
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Licorice
• Bubblegum
• Taco chips
• Ice

If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call, ask us on Facebook or ask Dr. Brown during your visit this month!

"My son is seven - when should he visit BFO?"

Great question! Our staff at Brown Family Orthodontics will tell you that braces were originally considered to be best appropriate for teens. But these days, kids as old as seven are beginning their orthodontic treatment. Because preadolescent kids are typically not self-conscious, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists suggest it could be a good idea to start early.

Experts, however, say it depends on the treatment required. Some children who get braces at an early age end up in a second phase of treatment, and end up having braces well into their teenage years despite starting young.

Most orthodontic treatment begins between ages nine and 14, and the folks at AAO estimate most orthodontic treatment lasts from one to three years, with two years being the average. It’s important, however, that children be screened no later than age seven for Dr. Ed or Dr. Jessica Brown to assess what the best age for treatment is.

Hope this helps! Give us a call if you have any questions about your child’s orthodontic treatment at BFO! We hope you have a WONDERFUL rest of the weekend!

Dr. Brown wants to know: Are you ready for the Braces Brigade?

Our entire staff at Brown Family Orthodontics are looking for current, former and future orthodontic patients, as well as parents of orthodontic patients, to join the AAO's Braces Brigade and blog about the unique, heartwarming and - let's face it - sometimes hilarious experiences that come with orthodontic treatment. All applicants must either be an orthodontic patient here at BFO or the parent of an orthodontic patient (pre- and post- treatment stages are just fine).

To complete the Braces Brigade application, you'll need to provide:

* Name
* Age – Must be 14 years of age or older
* E-mail
* Phone number
* Stage of orthodontic treatment
* A photo of your braces/smile
* A sample blog post – picture yourself as a member of Braces Brigade and show off those blogging skills! (100 word minimum)

If you're under 18, you must get your parents' permission and have them fill out this form along with your submission.

As a part of the American Association of Orthodontists' Braces Brigade you'll have the chance to share the journey to your healthy, beautiful smile with the world AND receive a $100 American Express gift card for their work! Dr. Ed Brown and our team encourage you to apply! GOOD LUCK!!

Brown Family Orthodontics and AAO present: "How Orthodontics Changed My Life" video contest

Dr. Ed Brown would like to direct your attention to an exciting contest that our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists are currently running. The contest, “How Orthodontics Changed My Life,” is all about you, the patient - tell the AAO your story about treatment at Brown Family Orthodontics and you may just win a $2,500 scholarship!

Contest entrants should tell their stories on video, and answer the following questions while filming:

* What were you like before you had orthodontic treatment?
* How have you changed How proud are you of your new smile?
* When did you notice changes in yourself?
* What kinds of changes have you noticed?
* What does your new smile mean to you?
* What would you say to others whose smiles make them self-conscious?

There will be two winners; the contest is open to students who are age 18 who have completed active orthodontic treatment (braces must have been removed) and be in the active retention phase of treatment or have completed active retention.

The contest guidelines provide instructions to contestants on submitting their videos, which are to be submitted on DVDs or USB flash drives and accompanied by a signed release. All entries must be postmarked by July 15th.

Dr. Brown and our entire team at Brown Family Orthodontics hope you'll find time to submit your video! GOOD LUCK!!

Save face this spring, from Brown Family Orthodontics

April is almost upon us, and for Drs. Brown and our team at Brown Family Orthodontics that only means one thing: it’s time to remind our young patients to protect their faces and pearly whites. Above is a helpful video from our friends at the AAO about staying safe on the ball field this spring.

According to the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, children, high-school athletes and adults will have more than 5,000,000 teeth knocked out in sporting events this year. By simply wearing a properly fitted mouth guard, these accidents could prevent this along with other traumatic facial injuries.

At Brown Family Orthodontics we are concerned for the health and safety of our patients at all times, but especially when playing contact sports. The above video from our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists outlines five ways you can protect yourself this spring. If you have any further questions about any of these tips, please contact our team. And remember to stay safe and have fun this spring!