ORAL HEALTH EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE PROGRAM
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| Title |
Use of Probiotics to Reduce the Level of Streptococcus Mutans in the Oral Environment |
| Clinical Question |
In patients who are highly susceptible to dental caries, does the use of probiotics reduce the level of streptococcus mutans in their oral environment as compare to no use? |
| Clinical Bottom Line |
Evidence supports the use of probiotics to reduce the level of streptococcus mutans in the oral environment. |
| Best Evidence |
(you may view more info by clicking on the PubMed ID link) |
| PubMed ID |
Author / Year |
Patient Group |
Study type
(level of evidence) |
| #1) 23810047 | Jose/2013 | 60 subjects having orthodontic treatments. | Randomized Controlled Trial | | Key results | In patients who used probiotic toothpaste or consumed probiotic curd, the concentration of streptococcus mutans was significantly reduced in the plaque around the bracket at P<0.05. However, the difference between the toothpaste and the curd was not significant. | | #2) 23342560 | Juneja/2012 | 40 children between the ages 12-15 with medium to high caries risk. | Randomized Controlled Trial | | Key results | Children who consumed milk containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus hct 70 had significantly (P<0.001) lower post follow up level of streptococcus mutans in their saliva. | |
| Evidence Search |
"Probiotics"[Mesh] AND "Streptococcus mutans"[Mesh] |
Comments on
The Evidence |
Both authors Jose and Juneja reported RCTs focusing on the use of probiotics to reduce the number of streptococcus mutans in the oral environment. These studies were done over short period of time and had small sample size. Both of these studies do not include healthy adults without any oral appliances. |
| Applicability |
Both studies demonstrate that use of probiotic significantly reduces the level of streptococcus mutans. Since s. mutans are one of the major microorganisms responsible for causing caries, it may be beneficial to consume probiotics or use toothpaste with probiotics. However, bacterium counts used as the outcome measure is a surrogate measure and simply seeing a reduction in the counts does not necessarily translate to health benefits for the patient. Therefore, probiotics should not be used as a sole therapy at this time. |
| Specialty/Discipline |
(Public Health) (General Dentistry) (Orthodontics) (Pediatric Dentistry) (Periodontics) (Dental Hygiene) |
| Keywords |
Probiotics, Streptococcus mutants, dental caries
|
| ID# |
2630 |
| Date of submission: |
03/13/2014 |
| E-mail |
kangj@livemail.uthscsa.edu |
| Author |
James Kang |
| Co-author(s) |
|
| Co-author(s) e-mail |
|
| Faculty mentor/Co-author |
Georgiana S. Gross, MPH |
| Faculty mentor/Co-author e-mail |
grossg@uthscsa.edu |
Basic Science Rationale
(Mechanisms that may account for and/or explain the clinical question, i.e. is the answer to the clinical question consistent with basic biological, physical and/or behavioral science principles, laws and research?) |
post a rationale |
| None available | |
|
Comments and Evidence-Based Updates on the CAT
(FOR PRACTICING DENTISTS', FACULTY, RESIDENTS and/or STUDENTS COMMENTS ON PUBLISHED CATs) |
post a comment |
| None available | |
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