Faculty Collaboration Database

Oral probiotics reduce halitosis in patients wearing orthodontic braces: a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Breath Res 2019 May 31;13(3):036010

Date

04/26/2019

Pubmed ID

31022704

DOI

10.1088/1752-7163/ab1c81

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85067270444 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   42 Citations

Abstract

Orthodontic braces can impede oral hygiene and promote halitosis. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of the oral probiotic Streptococcus salivarius M18 on oral hygiene indices and halitosis in patients wearing orthodontic braces. The study was a prospective, randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment were randomly allocated to a probiotic group (n = 32) and a placebo group (n = 32). Patients consumed 2 lozenges d^-1 for one month. Assessments were taken at baseline, at the end of the intervention, and at a 3 month follow-up. The outcome measures were plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI) and halitosis-causing volatile sulfur compound (VSC) levels. The dental biofilms before and after the intervention were analyzed utilizing next-generation sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes. PI and GI scores were not significantly influenced by the probiotic intervention (intervention × time: p > 0.05). The level of VSCs decreased significantly in both the probiotic group (VSC reduction = -8.5%, 95%CI = -7.4% to -9.1%, p = 0.015) and the placebo group (-6.5%, 95%CI = -6.0% to -7.4%, p = 0.039) after 1 month intervention. However, at the 3 month follow-up, the VSC levels in the placebo group returned to baseline levels whereas those in the probiotic group decreased further (-10.8%, 95%CI = -10.5% to -12.9%, p = 0.005). Time, but not treatment, was associated with the decrease in microbial community alpha diversity and a modest effect on beta diversity. Oral probiotic S. salivarius M18 reduced the level of halitosis in patients with orthodontic braces, but had minimal effects on PI, GI and dental biofilm microflora.

Author List

Benic GZ, Farella M, Morgan XC, Viswam J, Heng NC, Cannon RD, Mei L

Author

Ling Mei MD Associate Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Administration, Oral
Adolescent
Adult
Breath Tests
Child
Dental Plaque Index
Double-Blind Method
Female
Halitosis
Humans
Male
Metagenomics
Microbiota
Orthodontic Brackets
Periodontal Index
Placebos
Probiotics
Prospective Studies
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
Sulfur Compounds
Young Adult