Abstract

PROBIOTICS AND PREBIOTICS: ROLE AS FUNCTIONAL FOODS IN GENERAL AND ORAL HEALTH

Dr. Rupam Sinha, MDS, Dr. Soumyabrata Sarkar, MDS, Dr Preeti Tomar Bhattacharya, MDS, Dr. Tanya Khaitan, MDS*, Dr. Soumi Ghanta, MDS,

Abstract

Each day, every human being ingests a large number of living microorganisms, predominantly bacteria. Although these organisms are naturally present in food and water, they can also be deliberately added during the processing of foods such as sausages, cheese, yogurt and fermented milk products. For several decades now, bacteria called probiotics have been added to some foods because of their beneficial effects for human health. Although only a few clinical studies have been conducted so far, the results to date suggest that probiotics could be useful in preventing and treating oral infections, including dental caries, periodontal disease and halitosis. This article summarizes the currently available data on the potential benefits of probiotics for general and oral health.

Keywords: Lactobacillus; Microflora; Probiotic; Prebiotic.