Evaluating the possibly-corrosive effects of four different mouthwashes on orthodontic brackets and bands: an exploratory, in-vitro, comparative study

Mouthwashes have always been an essential component in the recipe for good oral hygiene. Orthodontic patients are generally advised to use mouthwashes regularly, as an adjunct to other mouth-cleaning methods. Many studies have investigated the effects of mouthwashes on the dental and gingival structures. However, only few studies have examined some of the interactions between orthodontic brackets/bands and these important oral healthcare pillars, fewer are the studies which have looked into various kinds of mouthwashes. This study aimed to evaluate the possibly-corrosive effects of 4 different mouthwashes. 1200 stainless-steel orthodontic brackets and 480 stainless-steel orthodontic bands were separately immersed in the 4 following mouthwashes: fluoride 2500 ppm, chlorhexidine 0.12%, propolis 5%, and physiological saline of NaCl 0.9%. 15 containers were used for each mouthwash type, simulating having 60 patients in total. In every container, hence, there were 20 stainless-steel brackets (the same as in the typical orthodontic kit used per patient), or 8 bands (assuming the banding of all first and second permanent molars of the patient). The duration of soaking was 3 months. The used mouthwashes liquids were renewed on a weekly basis. The brackets and bands weights were measured with a precision of 0.0000 g at baseline (T0) and after the three-month period (T1). Mostly all study groups exhibited a trend of weight loss, with statistically significant differences amongst the groups. Physiological saline had the greatest weight loss, followed by fluoride, propolis, and chlorhexidine, respectively. All mouthwashes had a sort of slight corrosive impact on the orthodontic brackets/bands.