Brushing properly with braces is a huge part of keeping your smile healthy. Patients who neglect their oral hygiene when they have braces often encounter severe problems with gum disease and tooth decay in the following years. Keep the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your tooth surface and brush gently along the gum line. Brush the tops of the brackets by angling your brush downward, and brush the bottom with the brush angled upward. Be sure to cover all tooth areas.