ABSTRACT
This study attempted to analyze the efficacy of Lactobacillus reuteri consumption in the form of lozenges on pathogenic oral microorganism growth in patients using fixed orthodontic appliances. All saliva samples were amassed from patients (n = 10; age:18–24 years) with fixed orthodontic appliances before and two weeks after daily consumption of probiotic L. reuteri DSM-17938 lozenges (2 × 108 CFU/tablet). The total microbial load in the samples was quantified using the plate count method. Streptococcus sanguinis ATCC-10556 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC-25923 were grown in brain heart infusion (BHI) broth in an anaerobic atmosphere at 37°C, while Candida albicans ATCC-10231 was proliferated in BHI broth under aerobic conditions at 37°C. DNA was extracted from the salivary samples and bacterial and fungal cultures and identified using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The data were statistically analyzed using a paired t-test. A significant decrease in the total bacterial load in saliva was observed after probiotic consumption (3.30 ± 0.31 log CFU/mL before consumption and 2.88 ± 0.24 log CFU/mL after consumption; p = 0.004), including S. sanguinis (7.83 ± 0.40 log CFU/mL before consumption and 5.52 ± 0.18 log CFU/mL after consumption; p = 0.003), S. aureus (6.93 ± 0.52 log CFU/mL before consumption and 6.44 ± 0.54 log CFU/mL after consumption; p = 0.031), and C. albicans (3.42 ± 2.41 log CFU/mL before consumption and 1.81 ± 1.63 log CFU/mL after consumption; p = 0.017). In conclusion, L. reuteri consumption reduces the total microbial load, including S. sanguinis, S. aureus, and C. albicans, in the saliva of subjects with fixed orthodontic appliances. Further studies are warranted to explore L. reuteri consumption effect on other oral pathogens.
