Probiotics – Their Role in Prevention of Dental Caries

Abstract

ABSTRACT Probiotics have been used to improve gastrointestinal health for quite some time and their popularity has prompted increased interest for their role in promotion of oral health. There also has been a change in understanding of the oral disease process because of better understanding of ecology and microbiology of oral cavity. Very encouraging studies have come up in recent past exploring probiotics in fields of caries, periodontal diseases and few other areas and the results tend to suggest beneficial effects of probiotics on oral health and on whole body in general . Given these recent developments, it was considered timely to review the background and conceptual framework of the use of these agents in reducing dental caries. The evidence for the use of pro or prebiotics for the prevention of caries is reviewed.