Impact of Microbial Intake for Gums and Periodontal Health in Children Receiving Chemotherapy

Abstract

Probiotics comprised of living microorganisms and are devoid of any detrimental impacts on health. When consumed in sufficient amounts, they provide nutritional advantages. The prevalent oral infections primarily target the periodontal and dental tissues inside the mouth cavity. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of oral probiotics in combating bacteria associated with periodontal and dental diseases. Moreover, it aims to evaluate the gum and periodontal well-being of children receiving chemotherapy following the intake of oral probiotics. Seventy children, aged 4 to 16 years and undergoing chemotherapy, were randomly assigned to either the control or test group, which received probiotics, over a period of ninety days. Various evaluations, including the examination of gum and teeth-supporting structures, oral cleanliness, and testing for caries activity, were conducted at different intervals. SPSS 19.0 was utilized for statistical analysis. Among participants in the treatment group, the administration of oral probiotics resulted in a noteworthy reduction in biofilm accumulation over the observation period (P < 0.05). The test group exhibited an improvement in the condition of the gums and supporting structures of the teeth (P < 0.05). A caries activity assessment was conducted using the Snyder test. Among the children in the research group, 10 were found to have a score of 1, while eight exhibited a score of 2. None of the children in the research group displayed a score of 3. The findings indicated that consistent intake of oral probiotics leads to a significant decrease in the build-up of biofilm, the production of tartar, and the occurrence of tooth decay within the experimental group.