Nudging oral hygiene in orthodontics: Reviewing and advancing reminder strategies for fixed appliance therapy

Objectives: This review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of digital reminder strategies in improving oral hygiene compliance among patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment. Methods: Existing evidence on text-based, app-based, audio-visual, and multi-sensory reinforcement tools was synthesized to assess behavioral and clinical outcomes. Results: Reminder-based interventions demonstrated improvements in plaque control, gingival health, appointment adherence, and enamel preservation. Multimodal strategies showed superior engagement outcomes. Conclusions: Personalized digital reminders represent an effective adjunct to traditional orthodontic education for sustaining long-term oral hygiene behaviors.