The influence of a probiotic milk drink on the development of gingivitis: a pilot study

P>Aim The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a probiotic milk drink on gingival health and the development of experimental gingivitis. Material and Methods Fifty volunteer students took part in a parallel-designed non-blinded study. The test group drank a probiotic drink once a day; the control group did not receive any product to drink. After 8 weeks, individual mechanical plaque control was interrupted for 96 h. Papilla bleeding index, interproximal plaque and Turesky plaque index (PI) were recorded at baseline, after 8 weeks and again 96 h later. At the same time points, gingival crevicular fluid had been collected for analysis of polymorphonuclear elastase, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3). Results Interproximal PI and papillary bleeding were not different between the groups. In the test group, elastase activity and MMP-3 amount were significantly lower after the intake of the probiotic milk drink (p < 0.001 and 0.016). There was a significant increase of MPO activity in the control group; both groups were different at the end of the study (p=0.014). Conclusions The data suggest a beneficial effect of the probiotic milk drink on gingival inflammation.