Oral microbiome in children changes because of probiotics

Anisha Hall Hoppe, Dental Tribune International

Fri. 25. October 2024

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BHOPAL, India: Probiotics have been increasingly explored for oral health applications. Schoolchildren in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh recently took part in a study evaluating whether probiotics could prove a benefit to their overall oral health. After taking a probiotic product called EvoraPlus for a month, the children were tested and were found to have lower levels of harmful oral bacteria and increased salivary pH, thus creating a healthier oral microbiome.

Based at the Bhabha College of Dental Sciences in Bhopal, the researchers responsible for the study selected the EvoraPlus tablet because it combines three naturally occurring strains of beneficial bacteria: Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus uberis and Streptococcus rattus. These bacteria work synergistically to maintain a balanced oral ecosystem, potentially displacing harmful bacteria linked to caries, such as Streptococcus mutans.

The research involved 40 caries-free children aged 12–14. The participants were split into two main groups: Group A, in which total bacterial counts was assessed, and Group B, in which S. mutans levels were evaluated. Both groups were further divided into control subgroups (A1 and B1) that did not receive the probiotic, and test subgroups (A2 and B2) that consumed the EvoraPlus tablet for 30 days. Saliva samples were collected and analysed at the start and end of the study to measure bacterial counts and pH levels.

Results indicated significant reductions in both total bacterial counts and S. mutans levels in the groups taking the EvoraPlus tablets compared with the controls. Specifically, Group A2 showed a decrease in total bacterial colonies from 424.70 ± 28.06 to 167.80 ± 24.83 after 30 days, and Group B2 experienced a reduction in S. mutans from 350.00 ± 12.99 to 153.90 ± 10.00. The probiotic groups also exhibited a significant increase in salivary pH, indicating a shift towards a less acidic oral environment. The rise in pH is attributed to the neutralisation of acids produced by harmful bacteria, thus enhancing the oral cavity’s buffering capacity.

The findings suggest that oral probiotic formulations like EvoraPlus can effectively reduce cariogenic bacteria and support a healthier oral ecosystem. Consequently, such probiotics may be recommended as a preventive measure against enamel demineralisation and caries development. The researchers suggested that incorporating oral probiotics into daily oral hygiene routines could help restore the natural balance of beneficial bacteria, potentially mitigating the effects of modern diets and other factors detrimental to oral health.

The study, titled “EvoraPlus oral probiotic tablet: New paradigm for caries prevention in children”, was published in the September 2024 issue of the International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry.