STEP 1
Consult orthodontist
咨询整牙医师

Consult your orthodontist for any specific brushing and flossing instructions, as well products recommendations.

STEP 2
Remove rubber bands
移除橡皮筋

If you use rubber bands, remove them from your braces before you brush.

STEP 3
Brush often
经常刷牙

Brush your teeth at least four times a day, and after every meal, with a soft bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.

Be sure to get a new toothbrush every three months--braces have a tendency to wear brushes down quickly.

STEP 4
Brush in circles
循环刷牙

Brush in small circles, wiggling the brush around the contours and crevices of the braces, spending about 10-15 seconds on each tooth.

STEP 5
Brush all over
整体清洁

Brush your gums, the roof of your mouth, and the inside of your cheeks.

You can also try an inter-proximal brush, which looks sort of like a pipe cleaner and helps you remove plaque from difficult-to-reach areas.

STEP 6
Rinse mouth
漱口

Rinse your mouth thoroughly with mouthwash or water after brushing.

STEP 7
Floss
使用牙线

Floss at least once a day with 18 inches of waxed floss.

Using a floss threader might make this process easier.

STEP 8
Thread floss
牙线洁牙

Thread the floss under the main wire and between two teeth.

STEP 9
Floss up & down
上下剔牙

Move the floss up and down along the sides of each of the teeth.

STEP 10
Continue flossing
持续使用牙线

Continue threading and flossing until you've cleaned between each tooth and behind the last tooth.

STEP 11
Rinse mouth again
继续漱口

Rinse your mouth again with mouthwash or water.

STEP 12
Replace rubber bands
替换橡皮筋

Replace any rubber bands, and remind yourself that one day this all be history--and you'll have beautiful teeth to show for it.

Think braces are pricey now? At the turn of the 19th century they were made from silver, platinum and fourteen- to eighteen-karat gold.