Journal of Dentistry and Oral Care

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of Lactobacillus salivarius WB21 tablets on oral malodor among adult patients attending a dental institution in Mysuru city, India. Methods: This open label trial was conducted in September 2015 by a single calibrated principal investigator on 21 adult patients with genuine halitosis. With prior informed consent, participants were given 2.0 × 109 L. salivarius WB21 and xylitol in tablet form to be consumed three times after food daily. Oral malodor and clinical parameters were evaluated at the baseline and after 2 and 4 weeks. Genuine halitosis was further classified to physiological and pathological halitosis. Results: Bleeding on probing, tongue coating score and stimulated salivary flow were significantly improved at 2 weeks compared to baseline levels. A significant decrease in plaque index, average probing pocket depth and organoleptic score was observed at 4 weeks. The changes during 4 weeks in all clinical parameters were significantly greater in the participants with pathological halitosis compared to physiological halitosis. Conclusions: Oral administration of probiotic Lactobacilli improved clinical and oral malodor parameters. Further large-scale randomized clinical trials are necessary to explain the effectiveness of probiotics in management of oral malodor and periodontal diseases. *Corresponding author: Dr. Priyanka Sharma, JSS Dental College and Hospital, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara University, SS Nagar, Mysuru – 570015, India; E-mail: [email protected]