ABSTRACT

Dental caries remains one of the most prevalent oral diseases in children and adults worldwide. It is clinically manifested by localized demineralization of dental hard tissues by acidic by-products derived from bacterial fermentation of dietary carbohydrates. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are indigenous members of the oral microbiota accounting for a third of the entire oral microbiome organized in biofilms. LAB in the human mouth are mainly presented by the genera Lactobacillus and Streptococcus, accounting for 29.2% of the oral microbiome. Among LAB, L. reuteri has shown the most favorable outcome in chronic periodontitis. The chapter discusses the role of oral LAB as probiotic candidates promoting oral health. Oral health as integral part of general health has been shown to be positively affected and promoted by the availability of probiotic LAB in the mouth. While positive results have been published, multicentric clinical trials are warranted for true scientific evidence.