Importance of Oral Hygiene in Orthodontic Treatment

Abstract

Background: Orthodontic treatment involves the use of appliances such as braces or aligners to straighten teeth and improve bite. Maintaining good oral hygiene during treatment is crucial to prevent the development of dental caries and periodontal disease. Methods: A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2018 and 2022. The search terms used included "orthodontic treatment," "oral hygiene," "dental caries," and "periodontal disease." Inclusion criteria for studies were: (1) written in English, (2) published in peer-reviewed journals, (3) focused on orthodontic treatment and oral hygiene, and (4) included original research. Exclusion criteria were: (1) case reports, (2) reviews or meta-analyses, (3) not focused on orthodontic treatment or oral hygiene. Results: A total of 28 studies were included in the systematic review. The majority of the studies were observational in nature and conducted on adolescent patients. The studies consistently demonstrated that poor oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment is associated with an increased risk of dental caries and periodontal disease. Specifically, a poor oral hygiene status was found to be associated with a higher incidence of white spot lesions, gingivitis, and periodontitis during treatment with fixed appliances. Conclusion: The results of this systematic review demonstrate the importance of oral hygiene in orthodontic treatment. Patients undergoing orthodontic treatment should be educated about the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene to prevent the development of dental caries and periodontal disease. Dentists and orthodontists should closely monitor the oral hygiene status of their patients during treatment and provide appropriate interventions to improve oral hygiene and prevent the development of oral health complications.