title: Oral Hygiene and Dietary Habits in Adolescents with Fixed Orthodontic Appliances: A Cross-sectional Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fixed orthodontic appliances (FOAs) may cause a temporary deterioration of oral hygiene with corresponding gingival inflammatory changes. Optimal oral hygiene and dietary changes are essential in order to avoid periodontal inflammation. The present study investigates to what extent the recommendations made by the orthodontist are followed by young patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 67 adolescent patients with FOA were examined and interviewed. The control group consisted of 70 patients of the same age who had not undergone any orthodontic treatment. A specific questionnaire (assessing dietary habits, oral hygiene measures) was used and comprehensive oral findings along with oral hygiene status were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis of the data showed that despite intensive oral hygiene and dietary advice in the patients with FOA, there was no change in diet or oral hygiene habits. There were significantly higher signs of gingival inflammation and amount of dental plaque in FOA patients. Nutritional recommendations and oral hygiene measures for young people with FOA were not adequately enforced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicate that frequent recalls should be scheduled with repeated reinforcement of oral hygiene and dietary modifications in FOA patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Augustusplatz 2, 55131 Mainz, Germany, Phone: +49-6131173586, e-mail: adrianoasso@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azaripour
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Willershausen
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Muhamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, MR Ambedkar Dental College and Hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Supriya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ebenezer
authors.affiliation: Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Brita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Willershausen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000067697:Adolescent Health; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Dietary habits; Fixed orthodontic appliance; Oral hygiene measures; Questionnaire.