Efficacy of oral probiotics in improving oral hygiene for orthodontic patients

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There is an increasing demand for orthodontic treatment due to its benefits in improving smiles, self-esteem and jaw function. However, braces make it more difficult to brush teeth effectively and therefore increase the accumulation of bacterial plaque (dental biofilm) in these hard-to-brush areas. Plaque can lead to problems such as tooth demineralization, bleeding gums and bad breath. These consequences significantly affect orthodontic treatment results and a patient’s quality of life. The prevalence of these biofilm-related problems, such as enamel demineralization, still remain as high as 72.9% in patients wearing braces. Many dental products are commercially available to prevent plaque buildup, with little effect. These include interdental brushes, specialized orthodontic toothbrushes, antimicrobial mouth rinses and toothpastes. The need for an effective measure of biofilm control is important and it is even greater in patients wearing braces. Probiotics are live ‘good’ bacteria that can inhibit ‘bad’ bacteria in biofilms. Regular consumption of oral probiotics has been reported as an effective way for managing plaque in preschool children, primary-school children, adolescents, adults and the elderly. However, the effect of oral probiotics on controlling biofilm in patients wearing braces has not been investigated to date. The probiotic Streptococcus salivarius, developed at the University of Otago, is the world’s first probiotic for the mouth. It has been shown to be effective and beneficial for the prevention and treatment of biofilm-related problems such as dental decay, gum inflammation and bad breath. We intend to investigate the effect of probiotic Streptococcus salivarius in managing the biofilm in patients wearing braces and see whether it can reduce dental biofilm accumulation, its unwanted side effects and offer patients a new beneficial oral micro-ecology.

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