A probiotic lozenge administered medical device and its effect on salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli

Abstract

Previous studies have suggested that lactobacilli-derived probiotics in dairy products may affect oral ecology, but the effects of different delivery methods have received little attention. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri, delivered by a new medical device, on the levels of salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in young women with high Streptococcus mutans counts. This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 20 healthy young women (aged 20 years): 10 as subjects and 10 as controls. The study subjects (Group A) sucked the medical device containing the probiotic lozenge with L. reuteri ATCC 55730/L. reuteri ATCC PTA 5289 (1.1 x 10(8) CFU) once daily for 10 days, while the control subjects (Group B) received placebo medical devices without bacteria. Salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli were enumerated with chair-side kits at baseline and 1 day after the final ingestion. Salivary S. mutans levels in the probiotic test group were significantly reduced, with statistical significance of reduction (P < 0.05). A short-term daily ingestion of lactobacilli-derived probiotics delivered via medical device containing probiotic lozenge reduced the levels of salivary mutans.