Effect of chlorhexidine mouthwashes on periodontal parameters and extrinsic tooth staining in orthodontic patients

Introduction: Periodontal health and biofilm control are primordial to success in orthodontic treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwashes on periodontal status and extrinsic tooth staining in orthodontic patients. Methods: Thirty-three patients of both sexes, aged 11-33 years, under orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances at <16 months, were randomly distributed into 2 groups. In the control group, patients received mechanical hygiene instruction, and in the experimental group, patients also used CHX wash twice a week for 60 days. The effectivity of the protocols was evaluated using the plaque, gingival, gingival bleeding, and discoloration indexes before the hygiene protocol was applied, 15, 30, and 60 days after protocol implementation. Results: In the experimental group, there was a decrease in the plaque, gingival, and gingival bleeding indexes at the different evaluation periods (P <0.05). In addition, there was a significant difference in the discoloration index at 60 days compared with initial time points after implementing hygiene protocols in the experimental group (P <0.05). In contrast, there were no significant differences in plaque, gingival, gingival bleeding, and discoloration indexes in the control group at any time (P .0.05). Conclusions: CHX mouthwash administered 30 days, twice a week, significantly improved the periodontal status with mild brown staining. After this period, expressive extrinsic tooth staining was observed.