Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 3, 2026
Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children
Published on: December 31, 2017
Effect of probiotic chewing tablets on early childhood caries--a randomized controlled trial
Trifa Hedayati-Hajikand1,2, Ulrika Lundberg3, Catarina Eldh4
1Public Dental Care Service, Scania Region, Sweden. trifa.hedayati-hajikand@regionorebrolan.se.
Insights
Probiotic chewing tablets significantly reduced early childhood caries in preschool children. This adjunct to fluoride toothpaste offers a promising strategy for preventing cavities in young children.
Area of Science:
- Oral Health
- Microbiology
- Pediatric Dentistry
Background:
- Early childhood caries (ECC) is a significant public health issue, particularly in low socioeconomic and multicultural populations.
- Effective preventive strategies for ECC are crucial for long-term oral health outcomes.
- The role of probiotics in modulating the oral microbiome for caries prevention is an emerging area of research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of probiotic chewing tablets in reducing the development of early childhood caries.
- To assess the impact of a specific probiotic formulation (ProBiora3) on caries incidence in preschool children.
- To investigate the adjunctive effect of probiotics when used with standard fluoride toothpaste.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted with 138 healthy 2-3-year-old children.
- Participants received either probiotic chewing tablets (ProBiora3) or placebo tablets daily for one year.
- Caries prevalence and increment were assessed at baseline and follow-up, alongside oral hygiene practices.
Main Results:
- The probiotic group exhibited a significantly lower caries increment (Δds = 0.2) compared to the placebo group (Δds = 0.8; p < 0.05).
- A risk reduction of 0.47 was observed, with a number needed to treat of approximately five.
- No significant differences were found in plaque levels or bleeding on brushing; no side effects were reported.
Conclusions:
- Daily administration of probiotic chewing tablets, as an adjunct to fluoride toothpaste, effectively reduces early childhood caries development.
- Probiotics represent a viable and safe adjunctive preventive measure for preschool children at risk of caries.
- Further research into potential dose-response relationships for probiotics in caries prevention is warranted.
Background:
To evaluate the effect of probiotic chewing tablets on early childhood caries development in preschool children living in a low socioeconomic multicultural area.
Methods:
The investigation employed a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled design. The study group consisted of 138 healthy 2-3-year-old children that were consecutively recruited after informed parental consent. After enrollment, they were randomized to a test or a placebo group. The parents of the test group were instructed to give their child one chewing tablet per day containing three strains of live probiotic bacteria (ProBiora3) and the placebo group got identical tablets without bacteria. The duration was one year and the prevalence and increment of initial and manifest caries lesions was examined at baseline and follow-up. All parents were thoroughly instructed to brush the teeth of their off-springs twice daily with fluoride toothpaste.
Results:
The groups were balanced at baseline and the attrition rate was 20%. Around 2/3 of the children in both groups reported an acceptable compliance. The caries increment (Δds) was significantly lower in the test group when compared with the placebo group, 0.2 vs. 0.8 (p < 0.05). The risk reduction was 0.47 (95% CI 0.24-0.98) and the number needed to treat close to five. No differences were displayed between the groups concerning presence of visible plaque or bleeding-on-brushing. No side effects were reported.
Conclusions:
The results suggested that early childhood caries development could be reduced through administration of these probiotic chewing tablets as adjunct to daily use of fluoride toothpaste in preschool children. Further studies on a possible dose-response relationship seem justified
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01720771 . First received: October 31, 2012.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
01:27The Oral Microbiota
01:22Probiotics
01:26Assessment of the Mouth
Mouth Inspection
The inspection begins with visually examining the mouth for symmetry, color, and size.