Both children and adults undergo orthodontic treatment for either aesthetic or health-related reasons. As professionals, it is our duty to ensure that our patients are aware of the risks associated with orthodontic appliances and to inform them on how best to carry out their oral hygiene routine. 

The toothbrush is the most commonly used dental cleaning instrument. However, its cleaning capacity is limited by the presence of braces. The contour of fixed orthodontics makes it hard for the filaments of the brush to reach the entire surface of the tooth, thus possibly leaving food residue and oral biofilm behind. 

VITIS^® orthodontic toothbrushes are specially designed with a V-shaped filament arrangement allowing them to more effectively reach the surface of the tooth. Oral biofilm and food debris that tend to accumulate around brackets, potentially leading to various complications such as gingivitis, halitosis, demineralisation and/or dental caries, etc., may thus be more thoroughly eliminated. 

Together with the VITIS^® orthodontic toothbrush, use of VITIS^® orthodontic toothpaste and mouthwash is recommended. These are specially formulated to prevent possible complications during orthodontic treatment, as well as to reduce oral biofilm build-up and gingival inflammation⁽¹⁾. 

The VITIS^® orthodontic product range also includes protective orthodontic wax (which guards against chafing by orthodontic appliances⁽²⁾) and effervescent cleansing tablets (for cleaning removable orthodontic appliances safely and effectively). 

To maintain proper oral hygiene where the toothbrush cannot reach (for example behind the wire that connects the brackets), use of interproximal cleaning tools including VITIS^® floss or tapes, Interprox^® interproximal brushes or Waterpik^® water flossers is recommended. 

Waterpik^® water flossers offer superior efficacy and quick results, as their ease of use aids in the maintenance of complete oral hygiene, thanks to the powerful pulsating stream of water, which breaks up the oral biofilm adhered to the surface of the teeth. In addition to being able to access every crevice on the tooth surface, it also easily accesses the subgingival areas, also thereby offering in-depth cleaning below the gingival margin. 

The use of Waterpik^® water flossers is especially indicated for orthodontic patients. Studies have been carried out demonstrating up to a five-fold reduction of oral biofilm by complementing toothbrushing with Waterpik^® water flossing, compared to the use of a toothbrush alone⁽⁴⁾.