DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2023.v11i11.021

Pages: 1979-1983

Background: Fixed orthodontic appliances have been found to contribute to an increased accumulation of dental plaque, hence making it more challenging for patients to effectively brush their teeth. Consequently, guidance provided by the orthodontist regarding oral hygiene, together with patient motivation pertaining to tooth brushing and utilization of mouthwash, assume significant significance. Objective: To assess the comparative effectiveness of various mouthwashes in managing dental plaque among orthodontic patients, a study was conducted. Materials and Methods: The descriptive and comparison study took place from December 2017 to October 2018 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: There is a salt water mouthwash, a chlorhexidine mouthwash, and an essential oil mouthwash in the third group. 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 crucial function in the management of dental plaque during orthodontic therapy. This study employed the use of essential oil, salt water, and chlorhexidine mouthwashes as interventions for the management of dental plaque. The efficacy of chlorhexidine in plaque management surpasses that of essential oil and salt water.