Applicability of neutral electrolyzed water for cleaning contaminated fixed orthodontic appliances

• Published in: American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics 2022-06, Vol.161 (6), p.e507-e523
• Main Authors: Akama, Yasuhiko, Nagamatsu, Yuki, Ikeda, Hiroshi, Nakao-Kuroishi, Kayoko, Kometani-Gunjigake, Kaori, Kawamoto, Tatsuo, Shimizu, Hiroshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0889-5406; 1097-6752
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2022.02.007

We investigated whether water jet washing with neutral electrolyzed water (NW) can be an easy and safe self-performed cleaning method for oral environments of fixed orthodontic appliance-wearing patients. In line with this, we examined the bactericidal effects and dissolution behaviors of metal elements released from appliances. A metal or resin bracket ligated with a metal wire and metal bracket adhered to an apatite-pellet were used as specimens. The bacteria and plaque removal effects of the 30 seconds of NW (30, 100 ppm) jet washing for contaminated specimens were examined via an agar-plate method and the observation of the residual plaque, comparing with other treatments (brushing and flow washing), those treatments with tap water (TW), and flow washings with commercial mouthwashes, Listerine Total Care + (LS) and ConCool F (CC). The amounts of metal released from metal specimens during the 1-week immersion in NW were analyzed and compared with those in TW, LS, and CC. NW jet washing produced larger decreases of surviving bacteria than the treatments with TW and CC (P