Efficacy of a probiotic and chlorhexidine mouth rinses: a short-term clinical
study.
Author(s): Harini PM, Anegundi RT.
Affiliation(s): Department of Pediatric Dentistry, SDM College of Dental Sciences and Hospital,
Dharwad, Karnataka, India. deerpriya@rediffmail.com
Publication date & source: 2010, J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. , 28(3):179-82
INTRODUCTION: Probiotic technology represents a breakthrough approach to
maintaining oral health by utilizing natural beneficial bacteria commonly found
in healthy mouths to provide a natural defense against those bacteria thought to
be harmful to teeth and gums. However, data are still sparse on the probiotic
action in the oral cavity. The review article on probiotics in children published
by Twetman and Stecksen- Blicks in 2008 showed only one study of dental interest
on probiotics in children.
AIM AND OBJECTIVES: The present study evaluated clinically the efficacy of a
probiotic and chlorhexidine mouth rinses on plaque and gingival accumulation in
children. The trial design is a double-blind parallel group, 14 days comparative
study between a probiotic mouth rinse and a chlorhexidine mouth rinse, which
included 45 healthy children in the age group of 6-8 years.
RESULTS: The Probiotic and Chlorhexidine groups had less plaque accumulations
compared with the Control group at the end of 14 years (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001,
respectively). But, unlike the plaque score, there was a significant difference
in the Gingival Index between the Probiotic and the Chlorhexidine groups (P =
0.009), Probiotic group being better than the Chlorhexidine group (mean = 0.2300
and 0.6805, respectively).
CONCLUSION: The Probiotic mouth rinse was found effective in reducing plaque
accumulation and gingival inflammation. Therefore, probiotic mouth rinse
obviously has a potential therapeutic value and further long-term study is
recommended to determine its efficacy.
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