I had braces for about two years. Its not as painful as you may think so don't worry too much. Only when the braces are tightened does it hurt a little. I had food such as soup and porridge whenever my braces were tightened. The food choice may not be as appealing but they actually taste nice. As for cleaning, id say to brush our teeth twice a day as normal but to also brush your teeth after you have eaten anything. You can purchase tooth brushes that have bristles in the shape of a v, makes it easier to clean the braces.