Brushing your teeth is more important when you're wearing braces. Food gets stuck around your braces, causing plaque, tooth decay and bad breath. Brush and floss after every meal, before you go to bed and when you get up in the morning.

Here are some brushing tips to follow:

1) The brush should be placed against the teeth at an angle.

2) The bristles should be pushed UNDER the wire and between the teeth.

3) The brush should then be vibrated and moved in small circles in each area of the mouth. This
should be done from above and below the archwire.

4) Scrub all over the braces, teeth and gums in a circular motion and do not forget the tongue.

5) When the brushing is finished, the braces should be shiny and the gum tissue should be firm
and a light pink color.

6) A careful brushing should take 3 minutes and should be done within 10 minutes after eating.

Brushing and flossing might hurt the first week after you get braces. But, it will get easier. If you follow these tips every day, you'll have cleaner teeth, fresher breath and a better chance of avoiding cavities with your braces.