Postbiotics and Dental Caries: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT Objective This systematic review aimed to evaluate the current evidence regarding the impact of postbiotics on dental caries, focusing on the effectiveness of postbiotic interventions in caries prevention, mechanisms of action, optimal dosages, and administration protocols. Methods A litera...

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Main Authors: Faezeh Heidari, Artak Heboyan, Dinesh Rokaya, Gustavo Vicentis Oliveira Fernandes, Mobina Heidari, Morteza Banakar, Muhammad Sohail Zafar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-02-01
Series:Clinical and Experimental Dental Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/cre2.70114
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author Faezeh Heidari
Artak Heboyan
Dinesh Rokaya
Gustavo Vicentis Oliveira Fernandes
Mobina Heidari
Morteza Banakar
Muhammad Sohail Zafar
author_facet Faezeh Heidari
Artak Heboyan
Dinesh Rokaya
Gustavo Vicentis Oliveira Fernandes
Mobina Heidari
Morteza Banakar
Muhammad Sohail Zafar
author_sort Faezeh Heidari
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Objective This systematic review aimed to evaluate the current evidence regarding the impact of postbiotics on dental caries, focusing on the effectiveness of postbiotic interventions in caries prevention, mechanisms of action, optimal dosages, and administration protocols. Methods A literature search was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, quasi‐experimental, observational, and in vitro studies. The selection followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines. A qualitative synthesis was performed due to heterogeneity in study designs and outcomes. Results Twenty‐one studies were included (18 in vitro and three randomized controlled trials). Postbiotics derived from various Lactobacillus species demonstrated inhibitory effects on Streptococcus mutans growth, biofilm formation, and virulence gene expression. Proposed mechanisms include direct antimicrobial activity, inhibition of bacterial adhesion, disruption of biofilm formation, modulation of immune responses, and pH buffering. After postbiotic interventions, human trials showed reduced salivary S. mutans counts and increased salivary pH. Conclusions Postbiotics offer a promising novel approach to dental caries prevention by targeting cariogenic bacteria and modulating the oral microbiome through multiple mechanisms. Compared to probiotics, postbiotics present additional advantages, including enhanced safety, stability, and ease of incorporation into oral care products.
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spelling doaj-art-d0a3f79d1ac4474da85de40cfe9df4d52025-08-20T03:55:08ZengWileyClinical and Experimental Dental Research2057-43472025-02-01111n/an/a10.1002/cre2.70114Postbiotics and Dental Caries: A Systematic ReviewFaezeh Heidari0Artak Heboyan1Dinesh Rokaya2Gustavo Vicentis Oliveira Fernandes3Mobina Heidari4Morteza Banakar5Muhammad Sohail Zafar6Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry Shahed University Tehran IranDepartment of Research Analytics Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University Chennai IndiaClinical Sciences Department, College of Dentistry Ajman University Ajman United Arab EmiratesA. T. Still University – Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health St. Louis Missouri USAStudent Research Committee, School of Dentistry Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences Yazd IranDepartment of Research Analytics Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University Chennai IndiaClinical Sciences Department, College of Dentistry Ajman University Ajman United Arab EmiratesABSTRACT Objective This systematic review aimed to evaluate the current evidence regarding the impact of postbiotics on dental caries, focusing on the effectiveness of postbiotic interventions in caries prevention, mechanisms of action, optimal dosages, and administration protocols. Methods A literature search was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, quasi‐experimental, observational, and in vitro studies. The selection followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines. A qualitative synthesis was performed due to heterogeneity in study designs and outcomes. Results Twenty‐one studies were included (18 in vitro and three randomized controlled trials). Postbiotics derived from various Lactobacillus species demonstrated inhibitory effects on Streptococcus mutans growth, biofilm formation, and virulence gene expression. Proposed mechanisms include direct antimicrobial activity, inhibition of bacterial adhesion, disruption of biofilm formation, modulation of immune responses, and pH buffering. After postbiotic interventions, human trials showed reduced salivary S. mutans counts and increased salivary pH. Conclusions Postbiotics offer a promising novel approach to dental caries prevention by targeting cariogenic bacteria and modulating the oral microbiome through multiple mechanisms. Compared to probiotics, postbiotics present additional advantages, including enhanced safety, stability, and ease of incorporation into oral care products.https://doi.org/10.1002/cre2.70114cariogenic bacteriadental cariesoral healthoral microbiomepostbiotics
spellingShingle Faezeh Heidari
Artak Heboyan
Dinesh Rokaya
Gustavo Vicentis Oliveira Fernandes
Mobina Heidari
Morteza Banakar
Muhammad Sohail Zafar
Postbiotics and Dental Caries: A Systematic Review
Clinical and Experimental Dental Research
cariogenic bacteria
dental caries
oral health
oral microbiome
postbiotics
title Postbiotics and Dental Caries: A Systematic Review
title_full Postbiotics and Dental Caries: A Systematic Review
title_fullStr Postbiotics and Dental Caries: A Systematic Review
title_full_unstemmed Postbiotics and Dental Caries: A Systematic Review
title_short Postbiotics and Dental Caries: A Systematic Review
title_sort postbiotics and dental caries a systematic review
topic cariogenic bacteria
dental caries
oral health
oral microbiome
postbiotics
url https://doi.org/10.1002/cre2.70114
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