Dental hygiene is always important, but it’s more so with braces in place. Your braces increase the hiding places for bits of food, so you must be extra diligent when brushing and flossing. Additionally, you must consider that the space under your braces won’t be exposed to the same type of staining as the surrounding tooth. That can mean uneven enamel staining if teeth aren’t properly cleaned. Because braces can make it difficult to maneuver around each tooth, patients often use water picks.