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SONGKHLA, Thailand: A new study has provided additional evidence that probiotics are beneficial against a number of oral diseases. Researchers in Thailand recently found that lactobacilli in particular could help reduce levels of mutans streptococci, which can cause dental caries, especially in cleft lip and palate patients with fixed orthodontic appliances.
The study included 30 cleft lip and palate patients who had been undergoing treatment between June and August 2011 with fixed orthodontic appliances for at least three months with attachments on at least 20 permanent teeth. For a period of four consecutive weeks, half of the patients consumed milk powder with probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei SD1 in 50 ml of water once a day, while the remainder received the same amount of milk powder in water but without probiotic bacteria.
From an analysis of participants’ saliva samples, the researchers observed a significant reduction in salivary mutans streptococci after the four-week period in the first group. In addition, a significant increase in salivary lactobacilli was noted in this group.
The results suggest that especially orthodontic patients, who usually need treatment owing to irregularities in tooth size and misalignment of teeth, could benefit significantly from probiotic intervention because fixed appliances facilitate the colonisation of bacteria such as mutans streptococci and render this group more susceptible to dental diseases.
However, further long-term studies with a larger sample size are needed to clarify the mechanisms of probiotic bacteria in reducing oral microbial counts, the researchers concluded.
The study, titled “Effect of probiotics containing Lactobacillus paracasei SD1 on salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in orthodontic cleft patients: A double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study”, was published in the May issue of the Cleft Palate–Craniofacial Journal. It was conducted at the Prince of Songkla University in Thailand.
