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O papel dos probióticos na prevenção de cáries dentárias em crianças
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| 2.76 MB | Adobe PDF |
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Abstract(s)
Introdução: Entre as doenças orais mais prevalentes, a cárie dentária constitui uma patologia crónica de elevada incidência mundial, afetando milhões de crianças. De origem multifatorial, resulta da interação entre fatores comportamentais, como alimentação rica em hidratos de carbono fermentáveis, condições inadequadas de saúde oral e desequilíbrio da microbiota. Este desequilíbrio promove a proliferação de bactérias cariogénicas, sobretudo Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), central na etiopatogenia da
cárie. Embora estratégias preventivas clássicas, como higiene oral rigorosa e alimentação equilibrada, permaneçam fundamentais, têm surgido abordagens complementares inovadoras. Entre estas, destaca-se a utilização de probióticos com aplicação oral, que tem despertado crescente interesse. Definidos como microrganismos vivos que, administrados em quantidades adequadas, conferem benefícios à saúde do hospedeiro, os probióticos estão consolidados na saúde gastrointestinal, sendo o seu potencial em saúde oral cada vez mais estudado.
Objetivos: Avaliar os efeitos da administração diária de uma pastilha probiótica sobre parâmetros clínicos e microbiológicos relacionados com a cárie dentária em crianças.
Materiais e Métodos: Neste contexto, realizou-se um estudo exploratório randomizado, controlado por placebo e duplamente cego, com 40 crianças entre os 6 e 14 anos, distribuídas aleatoriamente entre grupo de teste, que recebeu diariamente uma pastilha probiótica, e grupo placebo. A avaliação do impacto ocorreu antes e após 30 dias, recorrendo ao Sistema Internacional para a Deteção e Avaliação de Cárie (ICDAS), índices de placa (IP) e gengival (IG) de Löe e Silness, e recolha de saliva estimulada para medição do pH, da capacidade tampão e da concentração de S. mutans.
Resultados: A intervenção revelou boa tolerância e aceitabilidade. Observou-se uma tendência de melhoria em alguns parâmetros clínicos e microbiológicos, sem atingir significância estatística.
Conclusão: Estes achados sugerem um potencial efeito benéfico dos probióticos, cuja confirmação requer ensaios de maior duração e com amostras mais alargadas.
Introduction: Among the most prevalent oral diseases, dental caries is a chronic condition with high global incidence, affecting millions of children. Of multifactorial origin, it results from the interaction of behavioral factors such as a diet rich in fermentable carbohydrates, inadequate oral health conditions, and imbalance of the oral microbiota. This imbalance promotes the proliferation of cariogenic bacteria, especially Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), which plays a central role in the etiopathogenesis of dental caries. Although classical preventive strategies, such as rigorous oral hygiene and a balanced diet, remain essential, complementary and more innovative approaches have emerged. Among these, the use of orally administered probiotics has gained increasing attention. Defined as live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer health benefits to the host, probiotics are well established in gastrointestinal health, and their potential in oral health is being increasingly investigated. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of daily administration of a probiotic lozenge on clinical and microbiological parameters related to dental caries in children. Materials and Methods: An exploratory randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was conducted with 40 children aged 6 to 14 years, randomly allocated to a test group, which received a daily probiotic lozenge, and a placebo group. The impact of the intervention was assessed before and after 30 days using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS), the plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) of Löe and Silness, as well as the collection of stimulated saliva to measure pH, buffering capacity, and S. mutans concentration. Results: The intervention was well tolerated and showed good acceptability. A trend toward improvement was observed in some clinical and microbiological parameters, although without reaching statistical significance. Conclusion: These findings suggest a potential beneficial effect of probiotics, whose confirmation requires longer-term trials with larger sample sizes.
Introduction: Among the most prevalent oral diseases, dental caries is a chronic condition with high global incidence, affecting millions of children. Of multifactorial origin, it results from the interaction of behavioral factors such as a diet rich in fermentable carbohydrates, inadequate oral health conditions, and imbalance of the oral microbiota. This imbalance promotes the proliferation of cariogenic bacteria, especially Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), which plays a central role in the etiopathogenesis of dental caries. Although classical preventive strategies, such as rigorous oral hygiene and a balanced diet, remain essential, complementary and more innovative approaches have emerged. Among these, the use of orally administered probiotics has gained increasing attention. Defined as live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer health benefits to the host, probiotics are well established in gastrointestinal health, and their potential in oral health is being increasingly investigated. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of daily administration of a probiotic lozenge on clinical and microbiological parameters related to dental caries in children. Materials and Methods: An exploratory randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was conducted with 40 children aged 6 to 14 years, randomly allocated to a test group, which received a daily probiotic lozenge, and a placebo group. The impact of the intervention was assessed before and after 30 days using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS), the plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) of Löe and Silness, as well as the collection of stimulated saliva to measure pH, buffering capacity, and S. mutans concentration. Results: The intervention was well tolerated and showed good acceptability. A trend toward improvement was observed in some clinical and microbiological parameters, although without reaching statistical significance. Conclusion: These findings suggest a potential beneficial effect of probiotics, whose confirmation requires longer-term trials with larger sample sizes.
Description
Dissertação para obtenção do grau de Mestre no Instituto Universitário Egas Moniz
Keywords
Crianças Cárie dentária Probiótico Streptococcus mutans