Effects of a food enriched with probiotics on Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp. salivary counts in preschool children: a cluster randomized trial.

Probiotics have provided benefits to general health, but they are still insufficient to dental health. This study aimed to evaluate milk supplemented with probiotic bacteria and standard milk, measured by levels of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and Lactobacillus spp., in 3-4-year-old children after 9 months of intervention. The study was a triple-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. The sample was composed of 363 preschoolers attending five child development centers in Cali, Colombia. They were randomized to two groups: children in the intervention group drank 200 mL of milk with Lactobacillus rhamnosus 5x106 and Bifidobacteruim longum 3x106, and children in the control group drank 200 mL of standard milk. Interventions occurred on weekdays and information was gathered through scheduled clinical examination. The primary result was the number of colony forming units (CFU) of S. mutans and Lactobacillus spp. in the saliva. Secondary results were dental caries, rated by the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS), dental plaque, pH, and salivary buffer capacity. The proportion of S. mutans was lower in the intervention group compared with the control group after 9 months; however, the differences did not reach statistical significance (p=0.173); on the other hand, statistically significant differences between groups were found in the CFU/mL of Lactobacillus spp. (p=0.002). There was not statistically significant difference in the prevalence of dental caries for both groups (p=0.767). Differences between groups were found in the salivary buffering capacity (p=0.000); neither salivary pH nor dental plaque were significantly different. Regular consumption of milk containing probiotics bacteria reduced CFU/mL of Lactobacillus spp. and increased salivary buffering capacity at 9 months of consumption.

Effects of a food enriched with probiotics on Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp. salivary counts in preschool children: a cluster randomized trial

Abstract Probiotics have provided benefits to general health, but they are still insufficient to dental health. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate milk supplemented with probiotic bacteria and standard milk, measured by levels of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and Lactobacillus spp., in 3-4-year-old children after 9 months of intervention. Material and Methods: The study was a triple-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. The sample was composed of 363 preschoolers attending five child development centers in Cali, Colombia. They were randomized to two groups: children in the intervention group drank 200 mL of milk with Lactobacillus rhamnosus 5x106 and Bifidobacteruim longum 3x106, and children in the control group drank 200 mL of standard milk. Interventions occurred on weekdays and information was gathered through scheduled clinical examination. The primary result was the number of colony forming units (CFU) of S. mutans and Lactobacillus spp. in the saliva. Secondary results were dental caries, rated by the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS), dental plaque, pH, and salivary buffer capacity. Results: The proportion of S. mutans was lower in the intervention group compared with the control group after 9 months; however, the differences did not reach statistical significance (p=0.173); on the other hand, statistically significant differences between groups were found in the CFU/mL of Lactobacillus spp. (p=0.002). There was not statistically significant difference in the prevalence of dental caries for both groups (p=0.767). Differences between groups were found in the salivary buffering capacity (p=0.000); neither salivary pH nor dental plaque were significantly different. Conclusions: Regular consumption of milk containing probiotics bacteria reduced CFU/mL of Lactobacillus spp. and increased salivary buffering capacity at 9 months of consumption.

Estudio de morbilidad oral en niños escolares de una población de indígenas amazónicos / Study of oral morbility in scholar children population of native Amazon

OBJETIVO: Determinar la prevalencia de las principales enfermedades orales informada en el ENSAB III, en 110 niños de 5 a 12 años según los índices establecidos por la Organización Mundial de la Salud. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio en 110 niños escolares indígenas que asisten en Leticia a la Escuela Francisco José de Caldas del km 6 y a la Escuela Moniyamena del km 9 en el Departamento del Amazonas. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia de caries en dientes permanentes fue 28.4/100 y el COP-D fue 1.3/100 para niños entre 10 y 12 años, cifras que se encuentran por debajo de la meta establecida por la OMS para el año 2000 y de los resultados del ENSAB III. Periodontalmente los hallazgos indican una inclinación hacia la salud con 59.7/100 de niños sanos y los niños que presentan sólo gingivitis leves requieren un primer nivel de atención, a pesar de las deficiencias higiénicas y ambientales. La dieta que consumen es altamente fibrosa, seca y dura. No se encontró fluorosis en la población estudiada.CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados de este trabajo son altamente alentadores y sugieren que las entidades de salud pública deben enfocar más estudios y acciones preventivas tendientes a continuar la mejoría en la salud oral de estas etnias tratando de respetar sus costumbres y recibir una retroalimentación entre las culturas, con el fin de un enriquecimiento mutuo