Probiotics as oral health biotherapeutics.
BACKGROUND
Oral health is affected by its resident microorganisms. Three prominent oral disorders are dental caries, gingivitis and periodontitis, with the oral microbiota playing a key role in the initiation/progression of all three. Understanding the microbiota and the diseases they may cause is critical to the development of new therapeutics. This review is focused on probiotics for the prevention and/or treatment of oral diseases.


METHODS
This review describes the oral ecosystem and its correlation with oral health/disease. The pathogenesis and current prevention/treatment strategies of periodontal diseases (PD) and dental caries (DC) are depicted. An introduction of probiotics is followed by an analysis of their role in PD and DC, and their potential role(s) in oral health. Finally, a discussion ensues on the future research directions and limitations of probiotics for oral health.


CONCLUSIONS
An effective oral probiotic formulation should contribute to the prevention/treatment of microbial diseases of the oral cavity. Understanding the oral microbiota's role in oral disease is important for the development of a therapeutic to prevent/treat dental diseases. However, investigations into clinical efficacy, delivery/dose optimization, mechanism(s) of action and other related parameters are yet to be fully explored. Keeping this in mind, investigations into oral probiotic therapies are proving promising.
McGill University, Physiology and Artificial Cells and Organs Research Centre, Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Technology and Cell Therapy, Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, 3775 University Street, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2B4, Canada.
Shyamali
S
Saha
Catherine
C
Tomaro-Duchesneau
Maryam
M
Tabrizian
Satya
S
Prakash
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D009909:Oral Health; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome