Abstract: Orthodontic treatment is the process of physiological movement of the teeth under the using of effective force. The sliding of the arch wire along the braces or the braces along the arch wire will produce static friction or sliding friction force. Reducing the friction between the archwire and the bracket and improving the effectiveness of the light force treatment are the two challenging issues for orthodontic treatment at present. This paper expounds the mechanical basis of the orthodontic friction force, analyzes the influencing factors of the orthodontic friction force, and summarizes the related research progress of orthodontic friction.