guard over a selected bracket hook located proximate one side portion of the appliance next the protective guard is stretched longitudinally so that the other opening 36 in the protective guard can be placed over a second spaced apart bracket hook located proximate the end portion of the appliance still another form of the method of the invention involves the use of a third stretchable protective guard such as guard 40 having a generally circular shaped central portion 42 and a pair of spaced apart end portions 44 and 46 this form of the method of the invention concerns emplacement of the protective guard 40 over the side portion of the orthodontic appliance in a manner to protect the sides of the mouth of the user placement of the protective guard 40 over the side portion of the orthodontic appliance is accomplished by first placing opening 48 of the protective guard over a selected bracket hook located proximate one side portion of the appliance next the protective guard is stretched longitudinally so that the other opening 48 in the protective guard can be placed over a second spaced apart bracket hook located proximate the central portion of the appliance due to the unique configuration of the protective guards in the materials from which they are fabricated once the protective guards are interconnected with the orthodontic appliance in the manner described in the preceding paragraphs they remain securely in place until the user desires to remove them because of the strategic positioning of the protective guards experience has shown that their use substantially reduces the.