At BFO, February marks National Dental Health Month

At BFO, February is National Children's Dental Health Month and our professional team thought we'd share a few oral hygiene tips with you, our patients, courtesy of the American Dental Association, or ADA.

• Teeth brushing techniques: It takes only two minutes to properly brush using short, gentle strokes and devoting extra attention to the gumline, areas around fillings and hard-to-reach areas such as the back teeth.
• Flossing: hold the floss snugly between thumbs and index finger and insert it between each of the teeth, making sure to go beneath the gumline and curving the floss around the base of each tooth.
• Snack wisely: choose healthy snacks such as cheese, fruits and vegetables and avoid sticky, chewy candies that can stick to the teeth. If you eat these snacks, be sure to brush after doing so.
• Carbonated or sugary drinks: these drinks create acids that can damage the teeth when mixed with saliva, so they should be avoided altogether. If you're going to drink one of these beverages, don't sip on it throughout the day. Rather, drink it and then brush your teeth.
• Regular dental visits: in addition to seeing Dr. Brown, you should visit your dentist for professional check-ups and teeth cleaning appointments about every six months.

National Children's Dental Health Month, now in its 61st year, aims to increase awareness about the importance of kids' oral health. If you have any questions about keeping your mouth healthy, or about your treatment with Brown Family Orthodontics, please feel free to give us a call!

Ask Dr. Brown: What are "Dentofacial Orthopedics"?

You may have noticed that Drs. Ed and Jessica Brown and our team at BFO specialize in "Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics." While most people have heard of orthodontics, many are confused by the "dentofacial orthopedics" part of the title.

Not to worry - we can explain!

You probably know that an orthodontist like Dr. Brown straightens teeth, and indeed: "ortho" comes from the Greek for "straight" or "correct," and "dontic" from the Greek for "teeth." But what about dentofacial orthopedics? "Dentofacial" is "teeth" plus "face" while "ortho" again means "straight" and "pedic" is from the Greek for "child."

Essentially, while orthodontics entails the management of tooth movement, dentofacial orthopedics involves the guidance of facial growth and development, which occurs largely during childhood. In both cases, appliances are frequently used – the more familiar braces for orthodontics, and other specialized appliances like headgear and expanders depending on what facial abnormalities are present. Sometimes orthopedic treatment may precede conventional braces, but often the two are accomplished at the same time. So if your child gets braces and headgear, he's undergoing orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics!

Because Dr. Brown is skilled in both areas, he is able to diagnose any misalignments in the teeth and jaw as well as the facial structure, and can devise a treatment plan that integrates both orthodontic and dentofacial orthopedic treatments.

We hope that helps! Contact our office and schedule a consultation for your child. It’s never too late to get a great smile, and all of us at BFO can’t wait to help you get started.

January featured patient reviews!

For four decades, Brown Family Orthodontics has set the standard of excellence in orthodontic care, with offices in Metairie, Mandeville, Covington and Franklinton. Check out what our patients are saying about BFO!

"I feel all the doctors are very concerned about patient care. My children always get the best care when we are there for our appointments. They communicate with them on a level that they can understand and are always available to me, if I have any questions. The office staff are wonderful and polite and the office is always very cleaned and organized." ~ Alton J.

"Dr Brown is outstanding! This man knows his stuff! He treated my daughter, me and even my grandson is now coming to your office. My hat is off to Dr. Brown." ~ Lisa L.

"Everyone is friendly and very helpful. It's like visiting family." ~ Tina D.

"Excellent Visit - Had a great time at BFO today. I got a new (pink!) powerchain. I got another (hopefully my last!) chain too. The staff was great (as always) and I grabbed a new sillyband while I was there. i also grabbed a card about the iPad contest. Yay!" ~ Emma F.

"Great Visit to BFO - I had a superb visit at BFO today. They replaced my wires today and and gave me some great floss. The staff was awesome as always. Overall a great visit. They got me in and out of the office quickly. The progress my teeth have made has been overwhelming. Thank you BFO!"

Ask Dr. Brown: What is sleep apnea?

Sleep disorders are fairly common, with around 50 to 70 million Americans being affected by some type chronic sleep disorder, and many of these progressing to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), which is known to cause loss of sleep among many other health problems.

Sleep apnea is considered a serious medical problem that if left untreated can lead to high blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart failure and stroke. It can also take a toll on your overall energy level, as the condition causes an ongoing state of fatigue. Here at Brown Family Orthodontics, there are several different approaches to sleep apnea treatment, including:

• Surgery to the jaws or airway tissue to open the airway. This is typically only used in the most severe cases.
• Continuous airway pressure therapy which involves a mask and machine (CPAP machine) to keep your throat muscles and tissue open while sleeping
• Oral appliance therapy, a less intrusive method involving a customized oral device that positions your jaw in a favorable position to keep your airway open while you sleep.

If you suspect that you may suffer from a sleep disorder or sleep apnea, give us a call as soon as possible! We have offices in Metairie, Mandeville, Covington and Franklinton.

GO SAINTS!

We've got football fever! From all of us at Brown Family Orthodontics: GO SAINTS!

Brown Family Orthodontics present: The importance of regular dental visits

Are you brushing teeth twice a day and flossing during your orthodontic treatment? If the answer is yes, we think that’s great! But, Dr. Brown and our team at BFO would like to remind you to visit your general dentist every six months (or as recommended) in addition to taking good care of your oral health during orthodontic treatment. Regular dental checkups are important for maintaining good oral health. Your dentist can:

•Check for problems that might not be seen or felt
•Detect cavities and early signs of decay
•Treat oral health problems early
•Show you how to properly brush and floss your teeth

During an oral exam the doctor will check the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. Checkups will also include a thorough teeth cleaning and polishing. If you have not been to the dentist in the last six months, it’s time for you to schedule an appointment!

Hope this helps. Give us a call at Brown Family Orthodontics if you have any questions.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from all of us at BFO!

2010 is almost over—and what a year it was at BFO! Dr. Brown and our team at Brown Family Orthodontics thought we’d ask: what was memorable about 2010 for you, and what are you most looking forward to in 2011? Do you have a new year's resolution, or any exciting plans for the coming year?

Have a safe and happy New Year, to all our patients, friends, family and all our dental and medical colleagues in New Orleans, Metairie and surrounding communities.