Lactobacillus salivarius WB21-containing tablets for the treatment of oral malodor: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial

Objective. This study evaluated the effect of probiotic intervention using lactobacilli on oral malodor. Study Design. We conducted a 14-day, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized crossover trial of tablets containing Lactobacillus salivarius WB21 (2.0 x 10(9) colony-forming units per day) or placebo taken orally by patients with oral malodor. Results. Organoleptic test scores significantly decreased in both the probiotic and placebo periods compared with the respective baseline scores (P < .001 and P < .002), and no difference was detected between periods. In contrast, the concentration of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) (P = .019) and the average probing pocket depth (P = .001) decreased significantly in the probiotic period compared with the placebo period. Bacterial quantitative analysis found significantly lower levels of ubiquitous bacteria (P = .003) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (P = .020) in the probiotic period. Conclusions. These results indicated that daily oral consumption of tablets containing probiotic lactobacilli could help to control oral malodor and malodor-related factors.