Examining the effects of reminders via social media on oral hygiene motivation in patients receiving fixed orthodontic treatment

The aim of orthodontic treatment is to provide patients with better function and aesthetic appearance. Disruption of oral health during treatment and the potential for periodontal problems can affect the success of orthodontic treatment. Materials such as bands, brackets, and arch wires used during orthodontic treatment create retentive areas on tooth surfaces, hindering effective tooth brushing and the mechanical cleaning effect of chewing, leading to plaque accumulation. Therefore, orthodontic patients face significant challenges in maintaining good oral hygiene. Considering the long duration of treatment, emphasis should be placed on routine hygiene for orthodontic patients, including professional dental cleaning and home care instructions. Given that orthodontists regularly see patients over an extended period, they are uniquely positioned to initiate and follow up on oral hygiene education. The goal of our study is to evaluate the effectiveness of periodic reminders and motivational texts and visuals shared with patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment at the Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Dentistry Orthodontics Department through social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) to emphasize the importance of oral hygiene and encourage cooperation and collaboration between patients and healthcare providers. Thus, sustainable motivation will be provided to develop and reinforce positive health behaviors, eliminate plaque, and ensure infection control, thereby preventing problems requiring treatment such as tooth decay and gum issues that negatively impact the course of orthodontic treatment. In our study, all patients were informed at the beginning of the treatment, and written informed consent was obtained. Patients were randomly divided into two groups, a control group (44 individuals) and a social media group, considering age, gender, anomaly, and similarity of malocclusion. The social media group included patients who actively used any of the selected social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter). Patients in the social media group were asked to follow the accounts created for this study. As a result of the study, a statistically significant difference was found in periodontal indices between the control group, which received routine hygiene education, and the study group, which received motivational messages through social media. There was no significant difference in the formation of white spot lesions between the study and control groups. Keywords: Oral hygiene, social media, fixed orthodontic treatment