Anti‐cariesStreptococcusspp.: A potential preventive tool for special needs patients

Abstract

AbstractIntroductionProbiotics are living microorganisms that act on the host‐microbiome interface to restore the microbiota's physiological homeostasis. Numerous probiotics have been marketed with inhibitory activity againstStreptococcus mutansand consequently with a potential anti‐caries effect, mainly of the generaLactobacillusandBifidobacterium, whose main disadvantage is their limited ability to settle in the oral cavity.MethodsThis narrative review describes the mainStreptococcusspp. with probiotic anti‐Streptococcus mutansactivity, whose substantivity is greater than that ofLactobacillusspp. and consequently with anti‐caries potentiality. We performed a literature review in the PubMed, Science Direct and Google Scholar databases of articles published in English (without time restriction) related to caries and probiotics.ResultsThe potential identified anti‐caries probiotics includedStreptococcusspp. A12,Streptococcus oralis(AJ3),Streptococcus oligofermentans, Streptococcus salivarius(K12, M18, JH, LAB813, 24SMB),Streptococcusspp. with arginolytic activity (S. sanguinis,S. gordonii,S. ratti,S. parasanguinis,S. intermedius,S. australis, andS. cristatus),Streptococcus rattus(JH145),Streptococcus dentisaniandStreptococcus downii.ConclusionsThe possibility of using theseStreptococcusspp. as probiotics that inhibit the growth of dental plaque and the development of carious lesions represents a potential tool of particular interest for individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities that impede the routine and effective application of mechanical dental plaque removal techniques.