1. Braces can be dangerous to your teeth and gum tissues if you do not properly clean teeth and gums. 2. Poor brushing with braces is the causes of white marks on your teeth, gum disease and cavities. 3. Your teeth have to be cleaner with braces on than they were before braces, to insure that no white spots mark your teeth. 4. Use the multilevel bristles of your toothbrush with fluoride toothpaste to get into the sulcus, and between the tooth and gum tissue to clean the plaque that accumulates in this sulcus. This action automatically prevents bleeding, gum disease and white spots. When done properly this brushing action automatically cleans the sulcus, tooth and braces. 5. Zero bleeding, is the rule during your treatment. If bleeding happens you have an infection (gingivitis) of the sulcus and proper cleaning needs to be done to remove the plaque and bacteria (bio-film) that is causing this bleeding. Gum tissues heal quickly when the plaque is removed twice daily. The infection (gingivitis) is gone and so is the bleeding. 6. Healthy gums with braces makes treatment go faster, your breath fresher, and your braces sparkle and look great. 7. No fun to finish treatment with straight teeth and white marks on these straight teeth. Zero bleeding is the way to make straight teeth happen with no white marks. 8. When you are a "Zero Bleeding Patient" after orthodontic treatment you will continue to be a "Zero Bleeding Person" and avoid dreaded gum disease, gum surgery, and tooth loss of many senior citizens. By- Dr. Michael L. Stepovich Orthodontist and Facial Orthopedist