Talkin' fluoride with Dr. Brown

There are so many ways you protect your pearly whites during your treatment at Brown Family Orthodontics! You brush your teeth twice a day, floss regularly and protect your mouth and appliances from being damaged. But did you know there's another way to keep your teeth sparkling and healthy during your treatment at BFO?

Fluoride.

Yes, fluoride, the mineral that helps prevent cavities and tooth decay, can help keep your teeth strong! Fluoride comes in two varieties: topical and systemic. Topical fluoride is applied directly to the tooth. Topical fluoride includes toothpastes and mouth rinses. Systemic fluorides are swallowed in the form of a dietary supplement. Orthodontists like Drs. Ed and Jessica Brown use in-office fluoride treatments to help protect the oral health of adults and children undergoing orthodontic procedures.

Fluoride used in our office is often times a stronger concentration than in toothpaste or mouthwash, but is available at some drug stores or a pharmacy (ask Dr. Brown how to purchase professional strength fluoride). Dr. Brown may also prescribe a fluoride product such as mouthwashes, gels or antibacterial rinses for at-home treatment.

When choosing your own fluoride product, be sure to check for the American Dental Association’s (ADA) seal of approval. Products marked with the ADA seal of approval have been carefully examined and have met the criteria of the ADA for safety and effectiveness.

We hope that helps! Let us know if you have any other questions about fluoride or your treatment at BFO!

"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!

A sour smile is not a happy smile! From Brown Family Orthodontics

It’s no secret that sweet, sugary candies and drinks have an adverse effect of the health of your smile, but what about sour or tart candies? Our team at Brown Family Orthodontics thought you might want to know what kind of an effect does eating or drinking something sour have on my smile?

A 2008 study from the Minnesota Dental Association suggests that the amount of acid in sour candies is enough to eat away at tooth enamel and cause cavities. Here are a few souring facts about sour candies, and some helpful tips on how to protect your teeth from Brown Family Orthodontics](even if you cannot give up sour candies all together).

Facts

-Sour candies can be very acidic, and may actually burn the gums and cheeks, while weakening and wearing down the enamel on your teeth. (Check the acid levels in some of your favorite candies)

-It can take almost 20 minutes for the acid in sour candies to become neutral. Holding the acid in your mouth by sucking on sour hard candies or chewing sour gummies can keep the acid active for more than 20 minutes.

-The acid in sour candies can cause cavities and severe tooth decay.

Protect your teeth

-Limit the amount of sour candies that you eat on a daily basis, and if you do indulge, remember not to suck or chew on sour candies for long periods of time.

-After eating sour candies, rinse your mouth out with water, drink milk, or eat a couple slices of cheese. This will help neutralize the acid in your mouth (wait at least one hour before brushing your teeth with toothpaste, as this can actually increase the effects of acid on your teeth)

-If tooth erosion has already begun, ask your dentist about ways you can help reduce sensitivity and continue to protect your teeth.

Hope this helps! From Dr. Brown and Brown Family Orthodontics.

In love with your smile? Then we invite you to review us on Google!

For four decades, Brown Family Orthodontics has set the standard of excellence in orthodontic care. With offices in Metairie, Mandeville, Covington and Franklinton, Dr. Ed and Dr. Jessica Brown provide a winning smile and improved self-confidence to every patient.

Whether you've visited our office for a week, months or even years, we'd love to hear your feedback about how our office is faring! There are lots of ways you can share your thoughts about our practice on the Web, but we encourage you to head to our Google Local page and write a review there.

After all, reviews help Drs. Brown and our team create more beautiful smiles!

You may write a review here.

Back to school with Brown Family Orthodontics

Now that many of the schools in Metairie, Mandeville, Covington and Franklinton are back in session, Dr. Brown and our entire staff at BFO would like to remind all of our patients about the importance of scheduling appointments in advance. With school, clubs and sports to consider, we know that it can be challenging to find time to visit Brown Family Orthodontics. In order to accommodate all of our patients' busy schedules, it is important that you plan ahead for your appointments so that we are able to provide you with an appointment time that is convenient for you.

As always, please remember to give us advanced notice if you're unable to make your regularly-scheduled appointment. If we receive enough notice, we might be able to schedule another patient for that time. Feel free to give us a call if you have any questions, or if you would like to schedule your fall appointment.

Have a GREAT weekend - we look forward to seeing your smiling faces this fall!

Thanks to Invisalign at BFO, mom and dad can have an amazing smile, too!

Hey, moms and dads! Focusing on your kids' oral health so much that you've been neglecting your own? If you've been thinking about having your own set of perfectly-aligned teeth, Drs. Ed and Jessica Brown can definitely help! We are specially trained to offer an adult-friendly option for straightening teeth: Invisalign.

This course of treatment consists of a set of clear aligners that are molded to fit your teeth using a proprietary technology. You wear them all day and night, except for meals, brushing, and flossing – when you can easily slip them out to make eating and cleaning a snap!

Because they're clear, your teeth will be steadily straightening – and no one will know it but you! Drs. Brown are certified Invisalign providers in Franklinton, Mandeville, Metairie and Covington.

Please give us a call to set up a consultation. We hope you're having a wonderful summer!

Dr. Brown and the BFO team, reminding you to protect your mouth this summer

With summer here for another seven weeks, Dr. Ed Brown & our BFO staff would like to remind our young athletes going through treatment to take care of both your mouth and appliances while participating in contact sports (and non-contact sports) this summer.

Remember, 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 at BFO, be sure to ask us for a mouth guard, and we'll provide one for you! Enjoy your weekend, and we hope you're enjoying your summer thus far!