Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

The development of resistance to a range of antibiotics by some important pathogens has raised the possibility of a return of humans to the pre-biotic dark ages. The time has come to shift the paradigm of treatment from specific bacteria elimination to altering the bacterial ecology by probiotics. Probiotics are dietary supplements containing potentially beneficial bacteria and has been found beneficial to the host health. Probiotic is “a live microbial food ingredient that, when consumed in ample volume, exerts health-benefits on the consumer. They help in stimulating health promoting flora and also suppressing pathogens which cause and spread diseases.  In the medical field, probiotics are used mainly for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases.  Recently, probiotics are being used as a treatment for various oral diseases including dental caries, periodontitis, oral candidiasis, halitosis and many more. The aim of this review is to examine the mechanisms of probiotic bacteria and the use of these probiotics in the oral cavity.
Key words: Probiotics, oral cavity, systemic health.