Use of probiotics as an adjuvant to periodontal therapy aids to improve the clinical parameters, substantially reduces the concentration of the main periodontal pathogens and does not elicit any adverse effects in periodontitis patients.

A systematic review was performed to determine the clinical effect of probiotics as an adjuvant therapy to scaling and root planing in people having periodontitis.

In Medline (via PubMed), an electronic search was carried out of randomized clinical trials published in the previous 10 years that included the effects of using probiotics in periodontal disease.

Overall, 10 trials were incorporated. In 7 of them, the test group showed considerably improved  clinical parameters in comparison with the placebo group. In 5 trials, a considerable decline of the main periodontal pathogens was reported. There were no short-term or long-term adverse effects reported in any trial.

In patients with periodontal disease, the administration of probiotics as adjuvant therapy is beneficial and safe.