Comparative analysis of fluoride-based and natural mouthwashes on NiTi orthodontic wire surface integrity

To evaluate in vitro the effect of two commercial mouthwashes, Encident Brackets^® (fluoride- and chlorhexidine-containing) and BambooSmile^® (natural formulation) on the surface roughness of nickel-titanium (NiTi) orthodontic archwires.

Thirty rectangular NiTi archwire segments (0.019 × 0.025", Orthometric) were divided into three groups (n = 10 each): control, Encident Brackets^®, and BambooSmile^®. Samples were pre-immersed in artificial saliva for 24 h, then exposed for 1.5 h to the respective solutions, simulating 30 days of clinical use. Surface roughness (Rz) was measured before and after immersion using a Marsurf PS10 profilometer. Statistical analysis included Student's t-test and ANOVA (p < 0.05).

Both mouthwashes significantly increased surface roughness compared to baseline (p < 0.05). Mean Rz values rose from 0.798 to 2.208 μm in the Encident Brackets^® group and from 0.782 to 2.085 μm in the BambooSmile^® group. However, no significant differences were observed between the two experimental groups after treatment (p > 0.05).

Exposure to both conventional and natural mouthwashes resulted in significant surface alterations of NiTi archwires. Although Encident Brackets^® produced slightly higher roughness values, its effect was comparable to BambooSmile^®. These findings highlight the importance of considering mouthwash composition during orthodontic treatment, as increased surface roughness may compromise sliding mechanics, favor bacterial adhesion, and affect periodontal health. Further in vivo studies are recommended to validate these results under clinical conditions.