title: Regular consumption of Lactobacillus reuteri-containing lozenges reduces pregnancy gingivitis: an RCT.
abstract: This randomized controlled trial assessed the impact of Lactobacillus reuteri on pregnancy gingivitis in healthy women.
  
  
  
  Forty-five healthy women (24 test/21 placebo) with pregnancy gingivitis in the third trimester of pregnancy were enrolled. At baseline Gingival Index (GI) and Plaque Index (PlI) were assessed at the Ramfjord teeth and venous blood taken for TNF-α analysis. Subsequently participants were randomly provided with lozenges to be consumed 2 × daily until birth (approx. 7 weeks) containing ≥108CFU L. reuteri ATCC PTA 5289 and ≥108CFU L. reuteri DSM 17938 (test) or being devoid of L. reuteri (placebo). Within 2 days after birth recording of GI, PlI and blood sampling were repeated.
  
  
  
  At baseline, mean GI and mean PlI did not differ significantly between both groups. In the test group mean TNF-α serum level was significantly (p < 0.02) lower than in the placebo group. At reevaluation, mean GI and mean PlI of the test group were both significantly (p < 0.0001) lower than in the placebo group. Mean TNF-α serum level did no longer differ significantly between the groups.
  
  
  
  The consumption of L. reuteri lozenges may be a useful adjunct in the control of pregnancy gingivitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany. schlagenhauf@klinik.uni-wuerzburg.de.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schlagenhauf
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jakob
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eigenthaler
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Segerer
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jockel-Schneider
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rehn
mesh_terms: D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis; D006801:Humans; D052200:Limosilactobacillus reuteri; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D019936:Probiotics
keywords: 
  L. reuteri
  ; plaque; pregnancy; pregnancy gingivitis