The effect of various oral hygiene products on the microbial flora in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment

Context: Orthodontic devices lead to significantly greater plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation resulting in a change of gingival flora from cocci and rods to motile organisms like spirochetes. Aims: The aim was to study the effect of various oral hygiene products on the microbial flora in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. Materials and Methods: The microbial composition of 40 patients, divided into four groups of 10 patients each, was evaluated. Group I patients were prescribed nonfluoridated dentifrice which act as the control group, Group II patients were given fluoridated dentifrice while in Group III and Group IV fluoridated mouth rinse and cetylpyridinium chloride mouth rinse, respectively, along with nonfluoridated toothpaste was prescribed. The plaque sample was collected at the start of orthodontic treatment, after 30 days, 60 days and 90 days for all the patients. The microscopic slides were prepared and observed under dark field microscopy at the magnification of ×1000 and microbes were classified as cocci, spirochetes, fusiforms, filaments, and rods. Results: After applying analysis of variance and Tukey honest significant difference test, it was observed that after 30 days, only the proportion of filaments was found to be significantly higher in Group I. After 60 days, Group I had significantly lower proportion of cocci and a higher proportion of rods as compared to other groups. After 90 days, Group I had significantly higher count of rods, filaments, fusiforms, and spirochetes as compared to Groups III and IV. Conclusion: Less amount of the microbial shift to the pathogenic organisms was seen in the patients in whom mouthwashes along with tooth brushing were prescribed