Original Article

The effects of Lactobacillus reuteri-containing probiotics on the viability and biofilm formation of oral microorganisms

Su-Bin   Lee1   Kyung-Hee   Lee2,*   

Department of Health Science, Dongseo University
1Department of Dental Hygiene, Dongseo University

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of probiotics containing Lactobacillus reuteri on Streptococcus mutans and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. In addition, the degree of biofilm formation, initial acidity, buffering ability, and acid production performance were measured to confirm the dental caries-inducing ability. Methods: S. mutans (KCTC3065) and A. actinomycetemcomitans (KCTC2581) were used as experimental strains. The number of viable cells, degree of biofilm formation, initial pH, buffering capacity, and production performance were measured for comparing L. reuteri-containing probiotics and Bulgaris. Results: The viability of S. mutans in the groups was reduced in the following order: Bulgaris, probiotics, control. The degree of biofilm formation was significantly higher at 0% and gradually reduced at different concentrations (p<0.01). At 2.5%, the absorbance of the probiotics and Bulgaris groups differed significantly (p<0.01). The acid formation ability differed significantly based on the performance of S. mutans in each product (p<0.05). The absorbance of the probiotics group was significantly lower than that of the Bulgaris group (p<0.01). Conclusions: This study suggests that the use of L. reuteri-containing probiotics as an adjuvant for the prevention and decreasing of oral diseases may reduce their incidence, which can be considered one of the benefits of using probiotics.

Figures & Tables

Fig. 1. (A) Comparison of viable cell count of with all groups such as Bularis, Probiotics, and control. (B) Representative photograph for culture dishes for all group ① Bulgaris ② Probiotics ③ control (*<0.05; Bulgaris vs control, †<0.05: Bulgaris vs Probiotics)