RESUMO
AIM: The red complex includes Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia, which are recognized as the most important pathogens and are the indicators of infection in chronic periodontal disease. This study was to assess the levels of red complex bacteria in chronic periodontitis patients following treatment with probiotic mouthwash. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty chronic periodontitis patients with ages ranging from 18 to 55 years were recruited for the study. The control group was given placebo mouthwash and the study group was given probiotic mouthwash. After clinical monitoring and scaling and root planing, the collected plaque samples at baseline and 14th day were transferred for microbiological analysis by transport media for Conventional Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction. RESULTS: On the 14th day, all the clinical parameters were significantly reduced in the study group with gingival index (p = 0.003 HS) and plaque index (p = 0.001 VHS). In the study group, there was significant bacterial cell reduction with T. denticola (p = 0.041 S) and T. forsythia (p = 0.037 S). CONCLUSION: In patients with chronic periodontitis, treatment with probiotic mouthwash significantly reduces the levels of red complex bacteria. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The use of probiotic mouthwash could be a useful adjunct to scaling and root planing in chronic periodontitis.