Probiotics in Dentistry – A Review

The development of resistance to a range of antibiotics by some important pathogens has raised the possibility of a return of humans to the pre-antibiotic dark ages. Time has come to shift the paradigm of treatment from specific bacteria elimination to altering bacterial ecology by probiotics. Probiotics are dietary supplements containing potentially beneficial bacteria or yeasts. They help in stimulating health promoting flora and also suppressing pathogens which cause and spread diseases. The aim of this review is to understand the mechanism of action of probiotic bacteria in the oral cavity and summarize observed effects of probiotics as well as their varied applications in the field of dentistry.