Taking good care of braces will prevent damage to them as well as make them more comfortable to wear. Learning the basics of orthodontic care will help you follow your dental professional's recommendations to keep your teeth and gums healthy during the time you wear braces.

Prepare to brush. Take off elastics, and any other removable parts of your orthodontic appliance.

Clean your braces. Use your brush at a 45 degree angle to clean around the wires and pins of your braces. Brush from the top of each wire and then from the bottom. (Take time to ensure that all plaque and debris are removed, and that you work all the way around upper and lower teeth.)

Brush your teeth. Clean each tooth individually. First, place your brush at a 45 degree angle to the junction between the tooth and the gum, then apply gentle pressure as you move in a circular motion. Do this for about 10 seconds. Use the same brushing action on all outer and inner tooth surfaces, tilting the brush as needed to better reach the insides of smaller front teeth.

Floss with Oral-B® SUPER FLOSS. Floss once a day with SUPER FLOSS (a unique floss for cleaning around appliances such as braces). Have your dental professional show you how to use this floss, or follow the instructions on the product package.

Rinse and check your teeth. Rinse thoroughly with water or mouth rinse, and examine your teeth and braces in the mirror. They should sparkle, shine and feel clean.

Careful cleaning is required with braces because plaque and bacteria are easily trapped inside and around them. The following procedure will make daily brushing and flossing both simple and effective.

Special cleaning techniques enable you to care for your teeth, gums and braces more efficiently. By familiarizing yourself with available products and how they are used, you can better understand and perform the recommendations your dental professional makes for your specific situation.

Specialty products available for orthodontic care include the Oral-B End-Tufted toothbrush which has contra-angled bristle tufts for targeted tooth and gum cleaning, and the Oral-B Orthodontic toothbrush which has a special V-trimmed bristle configuration for effective plaque removal around wires, brackets, teeth and gums. For cleaning hard-to-reach spaces, an extra-fine, site-specific brush such as the Oral-B Interdental Brush is often used.

For power-assisted plaque removal, the Braun Oral-B Plaque Remover is available with orthodontic brushheads. Using the Braun Oral-B Oral Irrigator can help with overall cleaning and gum stimulation, while antibacterial rinses and home fluoride treatments are recommended for extra protection of teeth and gums.

Remember, better oral care results in shortened wearing time for braces, and reduces the risk of potential problems.

It is also important that you continue with regular visits to your general dentist while undergoing orthodontic treatment. Routine check-ups will be done for caries and for signs of gum disease. Your dentist or hygienist may also perform frequent fluoride treatments to provide additional protection to tooth surfaces from decay while you are wearing braces.

Your home oral care techniques will be monitored by your dental professional team and changes will be recommended as necessary.

Ask your orthodontist, dentist or hygienist for more information. And work together with them to "keep your teeth for life."