Objectives: The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of short-term lozenges containing Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus SD11 on cariogenic pathogens and on oral microbiota.
Materials and methods: This double-blind, randomized, controlled trial included 121 subjects and was randomly divided into the control and probiotic group. All subjects were blindly administered to receive the control- or probiotic L. rhamnosus SD11 lozenges every day for 4 weeks and then followed up for another 4 weeks.
Results: After probiotic consumption, the probiotic group had significantly lower levels of Streptococcus mutans and significantly higher levels of total lactobacilli at 4 and 8 weeks compared with the baseline. The 16S rRNA sequencing revealed an increase in bacterial diversity and beneficial bacteria in the Firmicutes phylum, Bacilli class, and a reduction in the mutans streptococci group in the probiotic group. The opposite results were found in the control group. This study did not find any caries increment, nor did the subjects have any side effects after product consumption.
Conclusion: With the limitation of a short-time study in low caries children, it showed that L. rhamnosus SD11 could increase beneficial bacteria in the Firmicutes phylum and Bacilli class that might support good oral health in children.
Keywords: Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus; lozenges; microbiome; oral microbiota; probiotics.
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