Effect of a Short-Term Intervention with Lactobacillus salivarius Probiotic on Early Childhood Caries—An Open Label Randomized Controlled Trial

Małgorzata Staszczyk (), Małgorzata Jamka-Kasprzyk, Dorota Kościelniak, Beata Cienkosz-Stepańczak, Wirginia Krzyściak and Anna Jurczak ()
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Małgorzata Staszczyk: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Institute of Dentistry, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-155 Krakow, Poland
Małgorzata Jamka-Kasprzyk: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Institute of Dentistry, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-155 Krakow, Poland
Dorota Kościelniak: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Institute of Dentistry, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-155 Krakow, Poland
Beata Cienkosz-Stepańczak: Laboratory of Anthropology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
Wirginia Krzyściak: Department of Medical Diagnostics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 30-688 Krakow, Poland
Anna Jurczak: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Institute of Dentistry, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-155 Krakow, Poland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-20

Abstract: ECC is a significant therapeutic and social problem and a global burden on public health. The aim of this clinical trial was to test whether a 2-week daily consumption of chewing tablets containing thermally inactivated L. salivarius reduces the 12-month caries increment compared to the control group. The investigation was a single-center, randomized, controlled open-label, blinded end-point evaluation trial in two parallel groups. At baseline, 140 generally healthy children between 3 and 6 years of age with or without ECC were randomly assigned to the probiotic test group ( n = 70) or to the treatment as the usual control group ( n = 70). The primary outcome measure was the 1-year increment in caries incidence and prevalence. Secondary endpoints assessed were the initial, cavitated and obvious dentinal caries increment as well as the measurement of dental plaque accumulation, as an indicator of the ECC risk. Data were collected through the clinical assessment of the children’s caries (dmft and ICDAS II) and oral hygiene status (DI-S of OHI-S index). Caries incidence and prevalence were statistically significantly lower in the probiotic group versus the control group ( p < 0.001 and p = 0.0075). The initial and final mean OHI-S scores in the probiotic group did not show any significant differences. In conclusion, the regular short-term intake of probiotics may reduce caries development. Our findings suggest that self-administered probiotic therapy may provide a good complement to increase the effectiveness of individual preventive home care in preschool children. This is the first clinical study evaluating the effect of a short-term probiotic intervention on reducing early childhood caries with 12 months of follow-up.

Keywords: pediatric dentistry; early childhood caries; dental public health; caries prevention; probiotics; Lactobacillus salivarius (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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