## 4 Discussion
### Probiotics as a Preventative Tool in Oral Health  
Preventure strategies for dental caries primarily revolve around managing risk factors, with probiotic administration emerging as a promising tool within these preventive measures.  
[PERSON] et al. for example found out that postbiotic or heat-killed probiotic lozenges, namely, _Lactobacillus_ salivarius, _L. paracasei_, and _L. plantarum_, reduced the number of _S. mutans_ in the oral cavity [27]. This is coherent with the findings of a study carried out by [PERSON] et al., which indicated that the intake of probiotic yogurt containing _Bifidobacterium_ lactis led to a significant decrease of _S. mutans_ present in saliva [34]. Moreover, [PERSON] et al. observed a notable reduction in salivary _S. mutans_ levels and overall bacterial counts after _L. rhamns_ administration. They also detected that _L. rhamns_ remained present in the probiotic group for up to 4 weeks after the cessation of treatment, suggesting its ability to adhere to the oral mucosa [35]. Additionally, [PERSON] et al. assessed the impact of probiotics on diminishing _S. mutans_ levels in saliva and potential caries prevention and instructed their participants to consume probiotic yogurt daily for 3 weeks, containing _L. acidophilus_ and _Bifidobacterium bifidum_. This intervention resulted in a significant reduction in salivary _S. mutans_ counts, with the most substantial decrease observed in the second week after the conclusion of the intervention [36; 37].  
A study carried out by [PERSON] et al. aimed to determine if there is a potential for caries development when consuming a tablet containing _W. cibaria_ over an 8-week period. To assess dental caries activities, the Cariview score, a predictor of caries incidence based on the acid production rate of oral bacteria, was used for comparison. After the ingestion of tablets for 8 weeks, both groups exhibited a significant decrease in Cariview scores. But there was no statistically significant difference observed between the two groups. Despite this lack of a significant difference, the findings indicated that the consumption of _W. cibaria_ eradicated the potential for dental caries development arising from acid production in the oral flora, which can be attributed to the colonization and presence of _W. cibaria_ in dental plaque and the oral cavity, actively suppressing acid production [31; 38].  
Furthermore, [PERSON] et al. collected plaque and saliva samples and administered _S. dentisani_ to evaluate its clinical efficacy. Their findings are abundant and in favor of probiotic administration as a means of decreasing risk factors for dental caries. Their results show, among others, that _S. dentisani_ can colonize in dental plaque, the administration of the probiotic _S. dentisani_ leads to a shift in microbial composition aligning with a healthier microbiota, marked by a reduction in microorganisms typically linked to dental caries, and the salivary flow increased significantly in the probiotic group compared to the placebo group. Increased salivary flow is linked to enhanced buffering capacity, the rinsing away of undesirable components, a favorable shift in the remineralization/demineralization ratio, heightened antimicrobial activity, and improved immune function, all being factors creating an environment less conducive to the formation of cariogenic biofilms. Additionally, pH levels did not exhibit a significant difference between the groups receiving probiotics and placebos, which may be attributed to an overall enhancement in this parameter observed in both groups during the study, potentially influenced by effective and regular toothbrushing practices upon trial initiation. The authors conclude that _S. dentisani_ seems to enhance various clinical aspects related to oral health, including the reduction in plaque accumulation and improvement in saliva quality and salivary flow [33; 39; 40].