Effect of Probiotics and Prebiotics on Oral Health

Abstract

Probiotics are the living microorganisms that have been commonly used in the prevention of gastrointestinal disorders. In recent times, probiotic and prebiotics have been used to assess and develop a natural balance of the microbial flora in the respiratory tract and the oral cavity as an adjunct therapy. They are known to augment the existing microbial flora that is beneficial to the host. Prebiotics are nondigestible food ingredients that help in increasing populations of probiotic bacteria. Recent studies have shown that probiotics help in active reduction in gingivitis, dental caries, periodontitis, and halitosis by replacing the harmful oral species, by means of utilizing abundant health-associated oral microbial species. Additionally, the nitrate-reducing bacteria have shown promising effect in improving efficiency of probiotic strains to accentuate oral health benefits. Probiotics along with prebiotics effectively alter the host–microbial interface by achieving homeostasis in multifactorial diseases such as periodontal diseases and oral malodor. The aim of the review is to collate the existing information available on use of probiotics and prebiotics in oral cavity.