VIENNA, Austria: BioGaia has successfully hosted a presentation on the potential of probiotics in the management of periodontitis. The Swedish biotechnology company is exhibiting its oral probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri ProDentis for the first time at Europerio 7 and had invited delegates to learn more about the latest clinical studies on the product regarding gingivitis, peri-implantitis and halitosis at its booth today.

L. reuteri is a “good” bacterium that helps battle the “bad” micro-organisms in the digestive tract, improving the host’s health. BioGaia combines the probiotic bacterium and engineering to develop its delivery systems.

BioGaia ProDentis is available in the form of mint-flavoured, sugar-free lozenges that consist of two probiotic strains, L. reuteri DSM 17938 and L. reuteri ATCC PTA 5289. One lozenge contains 200 million colony-forming units of live bacteria. The recommended daily dose is one to two lozenges.

In a number of randomised, double-blind and placebo-controlled clinical studies, L. reuteri ProDentis has been shown to reduce bleeding and inflammation of the gums, reduce plaque and pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity and restore a healthy bacterial flora in the mouth, according to BioGaia. There is also clinical evidence of a reduction in probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level, two of the key parameters in assessing the severity of periodontitis. No side-effects or negative effects have been reported.

During the presentation at the BioGaia booth, speaker Wim Teughels covered the clinical and microbiological efficacy of L. reuteri ProDentis as an adjunct to periodontal therapy. Teughels is Associate Professor at the Department of Periodontology at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium, and member of the Research Group for Microbial Adhesion.