Antimicrobial activity of chlorhexidine inpatients with fixed orthodontic appliances
Oral environment of orthodontic patients undergoes changes, such as pH reduction, largernumber of sites available for Streptococcus mutans collection, and increased accumulation of foodparticles, which may lead to an increased number of S. mutans colony-forming units (CFU) insaliva. Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) is the most potent documented antimicrobial agent againstMutans streptococci and dental caries. The aim of this work was to assess efficiency of CHX-basedmouthwashes in patient with fixed orthodontic appliances. Methods: Twenty patients with fixedappliances were selected for this study. They were undergoing full-bonded non extraction treatmentwith metal brackets (Roth 0.22, Discovery Dentaurum) on their teeth and bands on their molars.Each patient was provided with a toothbrush and toothpaste. The mouthwashes were used bypatients according to the manufacturersAE directions 15 min after toothbrushing: 5 mL of 0.2% CHX(Corsodyl, GlaxoSmithKline) was applied for 60 s in the morning and before bedtime for 2 weeks.Results: The data were analyzed according to the nonparametric Wilcoxon signed rank test (SPSSsoftware). Statistical significance level was set at p