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Published on: April 7, 2023
Comparative Evaluation of Commercially Available Freeze Dried Powdered Probiotics on Mutans Streptococci Count: A
Asif Yousuf1, Anup Nagaraj2, Shravani Ganta3
1Registrar, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Government Dental College and Hospital, Shireen Bagh, Srinagar, J&K, India.
Objectives:
Probiotic approaches are being considered to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms and are an alternative and promising way to combat infections by using harmless bacteria to displace pathogenic microorganisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of commercially available freeze dried powdered probiotics on mutans streptococci count among 12-15 year-old Indian schoolchildren.
Materials And Methods:
The study was conducted in two phases of in-vitro (phase I) and in-vivo (phase II) study, which was a double blind, randomized and placebo controlled clinical trial. A total of 33 schoolchildren between 12-15 years were included in the study. They were randomly allocated to three groups. Group A included 11 children using freeze dried Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium lactis. Group B included 11 children using freeze dried lactic acid bacillus only. Group C included 11 children using placebo powder. The study was conducted over a period of three weeks and examination and sampling of the subjects were done on days 0 (baseline), seven, 14 and 21.
Results:
For both the intervention groups A and B, statistically significant reduction (P<0.05) in salivary mutans streptococci counts was recorded up to the second week.
Conclusion:
Oral administration of probiotics showed a short-term effect on reduction of mutans streptococci count and showed a preventive role in caries development.
Insights
Probiotics significantly reduced mutans streptococci in schoolchildren for two weeks. This oral administration of probiotics demonstrated a short-term preventive role in dental caries development.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Oral Health
Background:
- Probiotics offer a promising alternative to combat pathogenic microorganisms by displacing them with harmless bacteria.
- Mutans streptococci are key pathogens implicated in dental caries development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of commercially available freeze-dried powdered probiotics in reducing salivary mutans streptococci counts.
- To assess the short-term impact of probiotics on oral microbiota in Indian schoolchildren aged 12-15 years.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in two phases: in-vitro and in-vivo.
- 33 schoolchildren were randomly assigned to three groups: a multi-strain probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium lactis), a single-strain probiotic (Lactic acid bacillus), or a placebo.
- Salivary samples were collected at baseline and at weeks 1, 2, and 3 for mutans streptococci count analysis.
Main Results:
- Both probiotic intervention groups showed a statistically significant reduction in salivary mutans streptococci counts up to the second week (P<0.05).
- The reduction in mutans streptococci was observed in children receiving either the multi-strain or single-strain probiotic formulation.
Conclusions:
- Oral administration of probiotics effectively reduces mutans streptococci counts in the short term.
- Probiotics may play a preventive role in dental caries development among schoolchildren.
