Evaluation of the Effect of an Experimental Herbal versus Fluoridated Mouthwash on Frictional Resistance and Surface Roughness between Orthodontic Brackets and Two Types of Archwire: In Vitro Study

Introduction: The present study aimed to evaluate an experimental herbal mouthwash, as compared to sodium fluoride mouthwash on the frictional resistance and surface roughness between brackets and two rectangular archwire types. Methods: A total of 60 premolar׳s brackets engaged with 0.019×0.025 archwires made of stainless steel and nickel-titanium alloys were used in this study. The samples were assigned into three groups, each group contained ten stainless steel archwires-brackets and ten nickel titanium archwires-brackets combination. Thereafter, these samples were immersed in herbal mouthwash, sodium fluoride mouthwash (study groups) and artificial saliva (control group) for 90 minutes. Universal testing machine was used to test the friction resistance in the three groups. Atomic force and scanning electron microscopes were used to evaluate the surface roughness of wires and bracket surface topography, respectively. Results: The samples immersed in sodium fluoride mouthwash illustrated the highest mean friction resistance and mean surface roughness, followed by herbal mouthwash and the least was for artificial saliva. Conclusion: The 90-minute immersion in herbal mouthwash did not exert any significant effect on frictional resistance or surface roughness among orthodontic brackets and archwires made of stainless steel and nickel titanium. Based on the results, herbal mouthwash may be prescribed as a non-destructive prophylactic agent on materials evaluated in the present study for the orthodontic patient.