2.2. Participants
orthodontic
MINOR
Thirty-nine subjects were recruited from the Department of Orthodontics at the College of Dentistry. Those included 24 females and 15 males aged 16–31 (a mean of 23.1 years). Those patients fulfilled the following criteria [Patients who were clinically fit and healthy and had no history of systemic diseasesPatient who had been scheduled to wear an upper removable orthodontic appliance due to minor tooth discrepanciesThe presence of full upper permanent dentitionPatients who had no history of sensitivity to persulfate or chlorhexidineCaries-free patients with good oral hygieneThe exclusion criteria are as follows:Participants who were under steroid-based medications, broad-spectrum antibiotics, or antibacterial mouthwash two months before the experimentPatients who were smoking or tobacco eatersMouth breatherPregnant or lactating femaleThe study protocol was explained to the participants verbally and in writing, and written informed consent was obtained from each participant.