Bacteria battle: study finds best way to clean your clear aligners
NCT ID NCT07610603
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This completed trial tested four ways to clean clear plastic aligners used for straightening teeth. Sixty adults wore aligners for 10 days and cleaned them twice daily by brushing with water, soaking in chlorhexidine mouthwash, using an effervescent tablet, or combining an ultrasonic cleaner with a tablet. Researchers measured how much bacteria remained on the aligners to find the most effective cleaning method.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- chlorhexidine gluconate 0.2% oral rinse
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this trial could point to a simple, effective way to keep clear aligners clean and reduce dental plaque and biofilm buildup.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed trial with only 60 participants. Results may not apply to all aligner types or cleaning habits, and the study does not test long-term health outcomes.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
60 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Jan 2021
- Finished
-
Mar 2021
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 35 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 18 to 35 years * Currently receiving thermoformed clear aligner orthodontic therapy in both the upper and lower arches * Healthy periodontium (no active periodontal disease) * Able and willing to wear assigned upper and lower aligners for 10 days as instructed * Able and willing to perform the assigned cleaning method twice daily for 10 days * Able to provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Use of any antibiotic within the previous month * Current smoker * Any relevant systemic disease that could affect oral microbial flora or healing * Current use of any oral mouthwash or oral antiseptic product other than the trial product during the 10-day study period
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Biofilms are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Riyadh Elm University
Riyadh, 12734, Saudi Arabia
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a Protein-Packed toothpaste outperform fluoride alone?
- Which mouthwash fights plaque better: chlorhexidine or essential oils?
- Can a special toothpaste tame gum disease?
- Electric flosser may tackle plaque and gum bleeding better than brushing alone
- Can an electric flosser outperform a manual toothbrush for healthier gums?
- Could games and peer support transform orphan dental care?