EQUID MILK IS A SOURCE OF PROBIOTIC BACTERIA WITH POTENTIAL IN CARIES REDUCTION AND PRESERVATION OF PERIODONTAL HEALTH

Abstract

Dental caries and periodontitis are the most common diseases of the oral cavity and can develop into life-threatening health conditions. Both diseases are multifactorial chronic diseases in which pathogenic microorganisms play an important role in disease progression. Several studies suggest that probiotics may play an important role in preventing of such diseases. In this study, lactic acid bacteria isolated from mare and donkey milk were evaluated for their potential as dental probiotics. The ability to survive and form biofilms in the oral cavity, as well as the antimicrobial and coaggregative abilities against cariogenic streptococci and periodontitis-related P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans were investigated. Two L. plantarum strains showed high probiotic potential. Together with high aggregation and antimicrobial activity, investigated strains displayed the ability to prevent biofilm formation of the tested pathogens. Our results suggest that there are several ways to exert antimicrobial activity and that the tested probiotic characteristics are strain-dependent. This study characterizes for the first time naturally occurring bacteria from mare and donkey milk for use in the preservation of dental health. Equid milk appears to be a potent new source of probiotic bacteria that can be used to reduce or prevent dental disease.