Analysis Of Streptococcus Mutans Level With The Use Of Different Mouth Rinses During Orthodontic Treatment

Abstract

Background:- Proper oral hygiene measures and techniques are always very crucial during Orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances. Orthodontic appliances create an oral environment such that there is an increase in plaque and debris attachment to the enamel surfaces which are difficult to clean and provide a source for bacterial accumulation, amongst which Streptococcus mutans play a major role in causing dental caries, gum diseases, decalcification and or staining of teeth. As a preventive measure, the use of mouth rinses is one of the commonly used methods to maintain oral hygiene during Orthodontic treatment. Hence this study is planned to analyse efficacy of 5 different mouth rinses in controlling the level of Streptococcus mutans, which is the most common causative factor for causing the dental decay.
Materials And Methods:- The study includes 30 orthodontic patients, classified into 6 groups, each group consisting of 5 male patients of age group 18-30 years were assessed for Streptococcus mutans level with the use of different mouth rinses.
Results:- The findings of this study showed that there is no statistically significant difference between the various groups, though chlorhexidine initially showed reduction in the levels of Streptococcus mutans level, followed by amine fluoride and essential oil based mouth rinses have reduced the levels of Streptococcus mutans at different time intervals.
Conclusion:- Mouth rinses are effective in reducing the Streptococcus mutans level during the treatment and can be used as preventive measure during orthodontic treatment.