Evaluation of the Oral Microbiome before and after Treatments for Halitosis with Photodynamic Therapy and Probiotics—Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: To compare photodynamic therapy and the use of probiotics in reducing halitosis assessed through gas chromatography and microbiome analysis. Methods: Participants aged from 18 to 25 years showing sulfide (SH2) ≥ 112 ppb on gas chromatography were selected. They were divided into four treatment groups: Group 1—Tongue Scraping; Group 2—Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy (aPDT); Group 3—Probiotics; and Group 4—Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy (aPDT) and Probiotics. The halimetry process was performed before, immediately after the treatments, and 7 days, 14 days, and 30 days after the initial collection. The collections for later microbiological analysis were made along with the halimetry for microbiome analysis. Results: Treatment with aPDT or probiotics under these experimental conditions was not able to change the bacteria present in the biofilm of the tongue. Conclusions: More research is needed to know the behavior of the oral microbiome in the presence of halitosis and the effectiveness of new treatments.

Keywords

• halitosis
• microbiome
• antimicrobial photodynamic therapy
• probiotics