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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · European Dental Research and Biomaterials Journal
DOI: 10.1055/s-0046-1817787
Review Article

Unveiling the Secrets of Probiotics: Transforming Oral Health from Within

Authors

  • Emil Malekiantaghi

    1   Research Department YSMUSP, Yerevan State Medical University Named after Mkhitar Heratsi, Yerevan, Armenia

  • Armen Malekiantaghi

    2   Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Bahrami Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

  • Kambiz Eftekhari

    3   Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research Center, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Bahrami Children's Hospital, Tehran, Iran
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Abstract

Oral diseases, including dental caries, periodontal diseases, and halitosis, are prevalent worldwide and significantly impact public health. Traditional preventive and therapeutic approaches have limitations, leading to increased interest in alternative strategies. Probiotics, live microorganisms that confer health benefits to the host, have emerged as a promising adjunct in oral health management. This review aims to explore the role of probiotics in maintaining and improving oral health. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, to identify relevant studies published between January 2000 and April 2023. Inclusion criteria encompassed human clinical trials assessing the effects of probiotic interventions on oral health parameters. Studies focusing on dental caries, periodontal diseases, and halitosis were prioritized. The findings suggest that specific probiotic strains, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, can modulate the oral microbiota, suppress pathogenic bacteria, and enhance the host's immune response. Probiotic interventions have demonstrated efficacy in reducing the incidence of dental caries, alleviating symptoms of periodontal diseases, and mitigating halitosis. However, variability in study designs, probiotic strains used, dosages, and delivery methods necessitates cautious interpretation of results. In conclusion, probiotics represent a viable adjunctive therapy in oral health management. Standardization of probiotic formulations, dosages, and treatment protocols, along with long-term clinical studies, are essential to establish definitive guidelines for their use in oral health care.

Keywords

probiotics - oral health - dental caries - periodontal diseases - halitosis

Contributors' Statement

All three authors have contributed equally in all stages of the manuscript preparation including conception, design, literature review, and writing. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript and agree with its submission to the European Dental Research and Biomaterials Journal. Each author confirms that this manuscript represents honest and original work.


Ethical Approval

This study conforms to the ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. Institutional review board approval was obtained for all procedures involving human subjects.




Publication History

Article published online:
05 March 2026

© 2026. European Dental Research and Biomaterials Journal. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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