Brushing the top of your teeth

Step 1

Use a soft-bristled toothbrush with a small amount of toothpaste. Place bristles where gums and teeth meet.

Brushing behind your braces

Step 2

Brush each tooth slowly and individually on the top surface and the back surface.

Brushing the top of your braces

Step 3

Use circular motions around the gum lines. The most important part is to remove the debris between the gum line and the brackets.

Brushing Underneath Your Braces

Step 4

Brush the lower teeth from the gum line up and the upper teeth from the gum line down. Spend about 10 seconds on each tooth.

Brushing Your Tongue

Step 5

Brush your gums, tongue, and the roof of your mouth too.

Flossing in between Braces

Step 6

Finish with some floss! Flossing removes the plaque that your toothbrush misses. Carefully pull floss between wire and braces. A floss threader may be helpful.

Flossing with Braces

Step 7

Floss carefully around each of the brackets.

Brushing with Braces

Step 8

Floss carefully around the gum area of each tooth. Floss will need to be threaded between each tooth individually and flossed under and over the wires. Floss each night after brushing.