The orthodontist and staff will teach patients how to best care for their teeth, gums and braces during treatment. The orthodontist will instruct patients (and/or their parents) how to brush, floss, and, if necessary, suggest other cleaning aids that might help the patient maintain good dental health. Keeping the teeth and the braces clean requires more precision and time than normal cleaning, and must be done two to three times every day if the teeth and gums are to be remain healthy during orthodontic treatment. Patients with braces must be careful to avoid hard and sticky foods. They must not chew on pens, pencils or fingernails because chewing on hard things can damage the braces. Damaged braces will almost always cause treatment to take longer, and will require extra trips to the orthodontist's office. If the patient plays contact sports the orthodontist may recommend a special mouth guard to protect the braces and the patient's lips, tongue and teeth. Braces usually do not interfere with the playing of musical instruments, but practice and a period of adjustment may be necessary.4