Dentistry

Probiotics May Improve Oral Microbiome

Probiotics may be an affordable solution to improve oral health.

Probiotics may improve the oral microbiome

Probiotics are increasingly being used to improve oral health. Schoolchildren in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh recently took part in a study that assessed whether probiotics could benefit overall oral health. The children took EvoraPlus for a month. After testing, they were found to have reduced levels of harmful bacteria in their mouths and increased saliva pH, indicating a healthy oral microbiome.

Researchers at the Bhabha College of Dental Sciences in Bhopal chose EvoraPlus because it combines three naturally occurring strains of beneficial bacteria: Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus uberis, and Streptococcus rattus. These bacteria work synergistically to maintain a balanced oral ecosystem, potentially crowding out harmful cavity-causing bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans.

The study involved 40 children aged 12-14 years who were free of dental caries. The participants were divided into two main groups: Group A, which assessed the total number of bacteria, and Group B, which assessed the level of S. mutans. Both groups were further divided into control subgroups (A1 and B1), which did not receive the probiotic, and test subgroups (A2 and B2), which took the EvoraPlus tablet for 30 days. Saliva samples were collected and analyzed at the beginning and end of the study to measure the number of bacteria and pH levels.

The results showed a significant reduction in both total bacterial counts and S. mutans levels in the EvoraPlus tablet-treated groups compared to the control group. Specifically, in group A2, the total bacterial colony count decreased from 424.70 ± 28.06 to 167.80 ± 24.83 after 30 days, and in group B2, the S. mutans count decreased from 350.00 ± 12.99 to 153.90 ± 10.00. The probiotic groups also showed a significant increase in salivary gland pH, indicating a change in the oral environment to a less acidic one. The increase in pH is attributed to the neutralization of acids produced by harmful bacteria, which increases the buffering capacity of the oral cavity.

The findings suggest that oral probiotics such as EvoraPlus can effectively combat cariogenic bacteria and maintain a healthy oral ecosystem. Therefore, such probiotics can be recommended as a preventive measure against enamel demineralization and caries development. The researchers suggested that incorporating oral probiotics into daily oral hygiene may help restore the natural balance of beneficial bacteria, potentially mitigating the impact of modern diets and other factors that are detrimental to oral health.