THE Oral Probiotics in Orthodontic Care By Greg Cannizzo DDS, Editor JAOS BENEFITS OF Oral probiotics can offer several benefits for oral health, particularly in the context of orthodontics, where individuals may face unique challenges related to braces or other fixed orthodontic appliances. I t has been known for quite some time that fixed brackets, bands, wires and a large number of cemented orthodon-tic appliances used in orthodontic treatment are convenient and favor-able areas for the retention of food and the buildup of plaque and biofilm. Since oral hygiene becomes more difficult during orthodontic treatment, these appliances become the perfect environment for the growth of microorganisms which can cause tooth decay, gingivitis and white spot lesions. These bacterial ecosystems can be removed with brushing and flossing and the damage caused by these microorganisms can be miti-gated by using fluoride, varnishes, toothpastes and sealants. Yet the effectiveness is only observed when these aids are regularly used. Probi-otics work by targeting the 24 Fall 2023 JAOS
Journal of the American Orthodontic Society Fall 2023: Page 24
