(9,10)
Mechanical plaque control is achieved with brushing and flossing, where the dental biofilm is disrupted and physically removed.
These measures included either
mechanical plaque control such as using toothbrushes, dental floss, interdental brush, water picks or chemotherapeutic agents such as mouthwashes and dentifrices.6,7,8 The aim of this study was to assess oral hygiene practices among fixed orthodontic patients of both genders attending orthodontic clinic at Prince Hashem Ben AL-Hussein Military Hospital at Az-Zarqa, Jordan.
(2)
Mechanical plaque control methods are efficient in maintaining adequate levels of oral hygiene, studies have shown that patient compliance in following these methods are not adequate in a large population.
Since many people cannot remove dental plaque properly and
mechanical plaque control alone is not enough, chemical plaque controlling such as mouthwash can be suggested.2,3
Jepsen, "The role of manual toothbrushes in effective plaque control: advantages and limitations," in Proceedings of the European Workshop on
Mechanical Plaque Control, N.
Also, Chlorhexidine as an antiplaque agent that prevents plaque formation but its mode of action does not allow it to remove plaque already present on tooth surface efficiently, therefore it is used as an adjunct to
mechanical plaque control.
* prevention of caries by
mechanical plaque control,
After five months, satisfactory root coverage through gingival wall restitution presented a more favorable esthetic aspect; the attached gingival zone had increased, which favored
mechanical plaque control; and dental hypersensitivity was absent (Fig.