Evaluating the Role of Various Mouthwashes as Anti-Plaque Agent During Orthodontic Treatment

Background: Dental plaque control is important for maintaining periodontal health, especially in fixed orthodontic patients who are at an increased risk of plaque accumulation due to the presence of brackets, molar bands, buccal tubes, orthodontic implants elastics and wires. Mouthwashes serve as adjuncts to mechanical cleaning methods in reducing plaque levels and improving oral hygiene. This study aims to evaluate the antiplaque activity of various mouthwashes during orthodontic treatment. Materials and Methods: The descriptive and comparison study took place at the Dhaka Dental College and Hospital in the Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. The 84 patients who came to the Department of Orthodontics were split into three groups: Group-1 used saltwater mouthwash, Group-2 used chlorhexidine mouthwash, and Group-3 used essential oil mouthwash. Results: This group of people had a mean age of 14.1 years. The group was made up of 30 men and 54 women patients. In the salt water group, the mean plaque index number was - 0.58, in the chlorhexidine group, it was -0.296, and in the essential oil group, it was -0.322. Conclusion: Mouthwash plays a vital function for control of dental plaque during orthodontic therapy. This study employed the use of essential oil, salt water, and chlorhexidine mouthwashes as a antiplaque agent. The efficacy of chlorhexidine surpasses that of essential oil and salt water.