Abstract:

  Background and Aim: previous studies have reported the benefits of probiotic dairy products on oral microbiota. To this date, no study has been conducted on the effects of these products on salivary pH. It’s clear that the salivary pH plays an important role in the initiation of tooth demineralization processes. This study was done to evaluate the effect of probiotic yoghurt on the salivary pH of orthodontic patients.

  Materials and Methods : This cross over, double blind, clinical trial study was done on 20 orthodontic patients referred to a private office in Tehran 3 months into their of orthodontic treatment. The patients’ salivary pH was measured at the beginning of the study. The patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups. The first group consumed the A(probiotic) yoghurt and the second group consumed the B(non probiotic) yoghurt for 2 weeks. After 6 weeks of wash out period, the patients consumed the yoghurt for another 2 weeks. The measurement for Salivary pH was taken at the beginning as well as the end of both 2 week periods of yoghurt consumption. Results were compared by repeated measured ANOVA.

  Results : The salivary pH before and after consumption of probiotic yogurt was 6.79±0.32 and 7.08±0.39 respectively(p<0.05). In non probiotic group the pH before and after consumption was 6.86±0.35 and 6.88±0.36 .Comparison of the results indicated that probiotic yogurt can cause an increase in the salivary pH while non probiotic yogurt had no effect on the salivary pH.

  Conclusion: Consumption of probiotic yogurt would be a simple and practical method for salivary pH elevation and providing a suitable condition for remineralization of tooth mineral structures.