## 4 Discussion
### Probiotics in Cardiology
[81], administration of _L. brevis_ CD2 lozenges for 6 weeks in children led to significant reduction in salivary _S. mutans_ mean counts (log\({}_{10}\) CFU/mL), a significant reduction in the dental plaque pH, and a significant reduction in gingival bleeding at week 6. The benefits were also significant 2 weeks after probiotic discontinuation. [PERSON] et al. [82] evaluated _Bifidobacterium animals subsp. lactis_ BB-12 administered in curds to children. A significant reduction in the _S. mutans_ count in saliva occurred after 1 h of ingestion and after 7 days of intervention. In a study by [PERSON] et al. [83], _L. acidophilus_ administered in curds to children for 30 days led to a significant reduction in the _S. mutans_ count in saliva in the test group. A probiotic combination of _L. acidophilus_ LA5 and _B. lactis_ BB12 also caused a significant reduction of salivary _S. mutans_ counts in children at days 7 and 30 after ingestion [73]. However, after 6 months of discontinuation, _S. mutans_ values returned to the initial values indicating that the colonization was temporary. Tablet consumption of _L. reuteri_ DSM 17938 and ATCC PTA 5289 for 28 days also causeda significant reduction in salivary _S. mutans_ and _Lactobacillus_ spp. counts in children [84]. In contrast, _L. paracasei_ F19 given as a dietary supplement for 9 months had no significant effect at the microbiological and clinical levels at 3, 6 and 9 years of age [74]. Consistent with this, the probiotic did not colonize the oral flora. Likewise, in [PERSON] et al. [85], _Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis_ BB-12, administered by slow release or tablet from the age of 1-2 months to 2 years, had no significant effect in the occurrence of dental caries in children with low caries risk up to 4 years old when compared to xylitol and sorbitol. Administration in children of _L. rhamnus_ and _Bifidobacterium longum_ in milk for 9 months [86] or _Bifidobacterium lactis_ in yogurt for two weeks [87] also caused no significant impact on _S. mutans_ counts, dental caries prevalence, or pH and plaque accumulation. Finally, in [PERSON] et al. [88], _L. reuteri_ administration in drops for 25 days in children with cleft palate (population with higher food retention, and higher levels of dental caries and cariogenic bacteria than healthy children) caused no significant reduction in salivary _S. mutans_ and _Lactobacillus_ spp. levels. In adults, consumption of yogurt with _L. acidophilus_ LA5 and/or _Bifidobacterium lactis_ BB12 for 2 weeks caused a significant temporary reduction of _S. mutans_ count in saliva after 2 weeks [89; 90]. This effect was lost 2 weeks after discontinuation. Similar results were obtained in adults who consumed white cheese with _L. casei_ LAFTI L26 for 2 weeks [91]. Administration for 4 weeks of _L. paracasei_ SD1 in milk allowed a significant reduction of _S. mutans_ quantities at all monitoring times [92]. _Lactobacillus_ spp. count increased significantly in most (75%) of the patients up to week 4 suggestive of probiotic colonization. Ingestion of ice cream containing _B. infants_ for 28 days, caused a significant reduction in _S. mutans_ counts when compared to baseline and to the control group [93]. There was no effect in _Lactobacillus_ spp. levels. The topical application of _Streptococcus dentisani_ in an adhesive gel on dental surfaces in single and multiple doses was evaluated in healthy adults [94]. There was a significant increase of the number of _S. dentisani_ in dental plaque at day 14 after the first application which was no longer observed on day 28. In dental plaque samples, _S. mutans_ count decreased significantly in the single dose group on day 28. In summary, _L. acidophilus, L. reuteri, S. dentisani, S. salivarius, B. lactis_ and _L. paracasei_ may be effective as an adjunct method to restorative treatment in children at any risk of caries especially when used in conjunction with changes in dietary habits. Dairy products (yogurt, milk) appear to be the favorite vehicles for oral probiotics in children.