Periodontal disease is a chronic state of inflammation that can destroy the supporting tissues around the teeth, leading to a loss of connective tissue and the periodontal ligament, the resorption of alveolar bone and eventual tooth loss. Periodontal disease can also induce dysbiosis in the gut microbiome and contribute to low grade systemic inflammation. Prebiotic fibres such as inulin can selectively alter the intestinal microbiota to bring back a state of homeostasis by improving gut barrier functions and preventing inflammation. Through this mechanism, supplementation with inulin may be able to indirectly benefit periodontal health. The primary objective of this trial to determine if inulin supplementation, provided pre-sanative therapy (ST) through the healing phase (post-ST) is more effective than the placebo at improving clinical outcomes of periodontal health: decreasing both the number of sites with probing depths greater than or equal to 4 mm and increasing the absence of bleeding on probing (BOP). Secondary objectives include determining the effects of inulin supplementation pre- and post-ST on salivary markers of inflammation and periodontal-associated pathogens.
The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of daily supplementation with inulin before, during and after sanative therapy (ST), on clinical outcomes of periodontal disease. The study design will allow the investigators to conclude if supplementation with inulin can favourably modulate oral microbiota prior to ST and can result in better periodontal health after ST.