***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: PURPOSE To examine the effect of chocobar ice cream containing bifidobacteria on  salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli . MATERIAL S AND METHODS A double-blind , r and omised controlled trial was conducted with 30 subjects ( 18 to 22 years of age ) divided into 2 groups , test ( chocobar ice cream with probiotics ) and control ( chocobar ice cream without probiotics ) . The subjects were instructed to eat the allotted chocobar ice cream once daily for 18 days . Saliva sample s collected at intervals were cultured on Mitis Salivarius agar and Rogosa agar and examined for salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli , respectively . The Mann-Whitney U-test , Friedman and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used for statistical analysis . RESULTS Postingestion in the test group , a statistically significant reduction ( p < 0.05 ) of salivary mutans streptococci was recorded , but a non-significant trend was seen for lactobacilli . Significant differences were was also observed between follow-ups . CONCLUSION Short-term daily ingestion of ice cream containing probiotic bifidobacteria may reduce salivary levels of mutans streptococci in young adults Background The increasing interest in probiotic lactobacilli in health maintenance has raised the question of potential risks . One possible side effect could be an increased acidogenicity in dental plaque . The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of probiotic lactobacilli on plaque lactic acid ( LA ) production in vitro and in vivo . Methods In the first part ( A ) , suspensions of two lactobacilli strains ( L. reuteri DSM 17938 , L. plantarum 299v ) were added to suspensions of supragingival dental plaque collected from healthy young adults ( n=25 ) . LA production after fermentation with either xylitol or fructose was analyzed . In the second part ( B ) , subjects ( n=18 ) were given lozenges with probiotic lactobacilli ( L. reuteri DSM 17938 and ATCC PTA 5289 ) or placebo for two weeks in a double-blinded , r and omized cross-over trial . The concentration of LA in supragingival plaque sample s was determined at baseline and after 2 weeks . Salivary counts of mutans streptococci ( MS ) and lactobacilli were estimated with chair-side methods . Results Plaque suspensions with L. reuteri DSM 17938 produced significantly less LA compared with L. plantarum 299v or controls ( p<0.05 ) . Fructose gave higher LA concentrations than xylitol . In part B , there were no significant differences in LA production between baseline and follow up in any of the groups and no differences between test and placebo were displayed . The salivary MS counts were not significantly altered during the intervention but the lactobacilli counts increased significantly in the test group ( p<0.05 ) . Conclusion Lactic acid production in suspensions of plaque and probiotic lactobacilli was strain-dependant and the present study provides no evidence of an increase in plaque acidity by the supply of selected probiotic lactobacilli when challenged by fructose or xylitol . The study protocol was approved by The Danish National Committee on Biomedical Research Ethics ( protocol no H-2 - 2010 - 112).Trial registration BACKGROUND : The beneficial effects of Lactobacillus species have been reported but the role of these species including Lactobacillus casei ( L. casei ) on oral health is not well documented . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of conventional or probiotic cheese containing L.casei on salivary Streptococcus mutans ( SM ) and Lactobacilli levels . METHODS : In this double-blind controlled trial ( I RCT 201009144745N1 ) , 60 adults were r and omly allocated in 2 parallel blocks  . SM and Lactobacilli count assessment were performed three times . Subjects consumed either cheese containing L. casei ( 1 × 106Cfu/g ) ( probiotic block , n=29 ) or cheese without any probiotic ( control block , n=31 ) twice daily for two weeks . Bacterial levels changes were compared using Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney Tests . Logistic regression compared changes in number of subjects with lowest and highest SM or Lactobacilli levels . RESULTS : Statistically significant ( p = 0.001 ) reduction of salivary SM was found in probiotic group . SM levels reduction was not significant between placebo and trial groups ( p = 0.46 , 62 % in probiotic vs. 32 % in placebo group ) . Lacto-bacilli count changes during trial were not statistically significant inter and intra blocks ( p = 0.12 ) . Probiotic intervention was significantly effective in high levels ( > 105cfu/ml ) of SM ( Odds Ratio 11.6 , 95 % CI 1.56–86.17 , p = 0.017 ) . CONCLUSIONS : Probiotic cheese containing L. casei was not effective in salivary SM levels reduction comparing to conventional cheese . Adding L. casei to cheese could be useful in decreasing SM counts in adults 18 - 37 years old with highest level of SM OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study is to determine the possible effect of Bifidobacterium bifidum DN-173 010 on  dental plaque of children .  STUDY DESIGN 52 children ( 25 F and 27 M ) , between the ages of 8 - 10 , participated in the present study . The study had a double blind , r and omized crossover design and the experimental period consisted of four consecutive time periods . During periods 2 and 4 ( 2 weeks each ) , children consumed 110 g probiotic fruit yogurt ( Bifidobacterium DN-173 010 ( 1 x 10(10 ) cfu/g ) ) , or a placebo fruit yogurt per day . Available supragingival plaque ( 24 h later ) was collected from teeth 16 , 11 , 36 and 31 at baseline and at the end of periods 2 and 4 . The counts of dental plaque mutans streptococci ( MS ) were evaluated using Dentocult SM ( Strep Mutans ) . RESULTS Changes of pre- and post-treatment levels of dental plaque MS were recorded for four consecutive sampling sites . There were no statistically differences between transition scores of test and placebo groups regarding different dental plaque sampling sites ( p > 0.05 ) ( unpaired t-test ) . CONCLUSION Within the limitations of the present study , Bifidobacterium bifidum DN-173 010 has no effect on dental plaque MS levels in children PURPOSE The aim of the present pilot study was to investigate the microbial profile in saliva and supragingival plaque sample s collected from caries-active adolescents before and after a daily short-term intake of milk supplemented with the probiotic bacteria . MATERIAL S AND METHODS The present study group consisted of 18 caries-active adolescents of both sexes who volunteered for participation giving an informed consent . The study has a r and omised placebo-controlled double-blind pilot design with two parallel arms . After a 2-week run-in period , the subjects were instructed to drink 2.5 dl of milk supplemented with Lactobacillus rhamnosus LB21 ( 107 CFU/ml ) ( test ) or st and ard control milk ( placebo ) once daily for a period of 2 weeks ( intervention period ) . Sample s of stimulated whole saliva and supragingival plaque were collected at baseline ( after run-in ) and immediately after the end of the intervention period ( follow-up ) . The salivary levels of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli were estimated by conventional culturing on selective agar plates . The presence and level of 19 oral species associated with the caries process were determined using the checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridisation technique . Differences between the groups were assessed using the non-parametric Wilcoxon – Mann – Whitney and chi-square tests . RESULTS The mean caries experience was high with an average of 7.0 ± 3.8 proximal enamel lesions . The most prevalent dominating species in the plaque sample s were Streptococcus mitis , Veillonella parvula and Streptococcus gordonii . The saliva sample s displayed a more mixed profile , with Streptococcus mitis , Rothia dentocariosa , Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus curvata being frequently identified species . All of the subjects harboured mutans streptococci in their saliva , with 61 % of them colonised with salivary lactobacilli . No statistically significant differences in the microbial profiles or the estimated counts between the baseline and follow-up sample s , or between the two study groups , were observed . CONCLUSIONS The present study showed that a short-term daily intake of milk supplemented with the probiotic bacterium L. rhamnosus LB21 did not significantly affect the microbial profiles or the levels of caries-associated bacteria in saliva and supragingival plaque sample s collected from caries-active adolescents Abstract Objective . To evaluate the effect of milk supplemented with fluoride and /or probiotic bacteria on primary root caries lesions ( PRCL ) in older adults . Material s and methods . After informed consent , 160 healthy subjects , 58–84 years of age , with at least two PRCL were recruited and r and omly assigned to one of four parallel study groups drinking 200 ml milk once daily for 15 months . Group A consumed st and ard milk ( placebo ) ; Group B ingested milk supplemented with 5 ppm F and probiotic bacteria ( Lactobacillus rhamnosus LB21 , 107 CFU/mL ) ; Group C drank milk with only probiotic bacteria and group D milk contained only fluoride . Primary endpoints were Root Caries Index ( RCI ) and electric resistance measurements ( ECM ) carried out by one blinded single examiner . Secondary endpoints were mutans streptococci and lactobacilli counts in saliva and plaque estimated with chair-side tests . Data were compared within and between groups with non-parametric tests . Results . The drop out rate was 38 % . At baseline there were no statistical differences between the groups . Significantly higher numbers of RCI reversals were found in groups B , C and D compared with group A ( p < 0.05 ) . The mean ECM values increased significantly ( p < 0.05 ) in all groups except for the placebo group A , indicating that remineralization occurred . The effect was most beneficial in the two groups that contained fluoride . No significant alterations were displayed regarding the microbial counts . No severe adverse effects were reported during intervention . Conclusion . Daily intake of milk supplemented with fluoride and /or probiotic bacteria may reverse soft and leathery PRCL in older adults Objectives The present study investigates the effect of an oral Lactobacillus paracasei SD1 isolate on a number of salivary mutans streptococci , lactobacilli , and yeasts and to examine whether the strain could persist in the oral cavity after a short period of consumption . The potential side effect of the probiotic was also evaluated . Material and methods After informed consent , 40 healthy young adults were recruited and r and omly assigned to either the test ( A ) or placebo ( B ) groups . Group A received milk powder contained L. paracasei SD1 , and group B received st and ard milk powder once daily for 4 weeks .  Salivary mutans streptococci , lactobacilli , and yeasts were enumerated using quantitative differential culture at the baseline and then once a week for 4 weeks after the administration period . The persistence of L. paracasei SD1 was also investigated using AP-PCR for the DNA fingerprinting . Results A statistically significant reduction in mutans streptococci counts occurred within group A compared to the baseline B ( P < 0.05 ) along with a non-statistically significant reduction in yeast counts . A significant increase in lactobacilli numbers occurred in group A ( P < 0.05 ) , and the probiotic strain could be detected up to 4 weeks following cessation of dosing . Conclusions Our results demonstrate that short-term daily ingestion of the human-derived probiotic L. paracasei SD1 reduces the number of oral mutans streptococci . Clinical Relevance L. paracasei SD1 may help to decrease the risk of dental caries , and this organism may be a useful probiotic organism for dairy products Background and aims . Espar is a dairy product of probiotic nature that contains useful bacteria and high calcium content . The aim of this study was to analyze effects of daily consumption of Espar on the number of salivary mutans streptococci and the level of calcium content in a population of 15 to 17 year-old female students . Material s and methods . A double-blind r and omized crossover study ( n = 50 ) of healthy female adolescents was implemented in four stage intervals . The first and third stages were ‘ run-in ’ and ‘ wash-out ’ intervals . For the second and fourth stages , two weeks long in duration , the participants consumed 100 grams of Espar or 200 grams of plain yogurt . At the end of each stage , the number of salivary mutans streptococci and the level of calcium content were documented . Results . There was a statistically significant decrease in the number of salivary mutans streptococci subsequent to Espar consumption when compared to ordinary yogurt ( p < 0.01 ) . Additionally , salivary 
    Output:
    
The meta- analysis evaluated the influence of probiotics on Streptococcus mutans ( SM ) , Lactobacillus spp . (
Conclusions In general , dairy probiotics were effective in reducing SM , increasing salivary pH , and promoting a higher plaque index .
Liquid matrices , such as milk and yogurt , seem to be more effective in reducing SM and LB levels .
Clinical relevance Consumption of dairy products containing probiotics could be a supporting method in caries prevention