RESUMO
As health professionals, we prescribe wide range of chemotherapeutics to the patients to control or to prevent the disease. When there is excessive use of antibiotics, it leads to imbalance between the beneficial and harmful microorganisms, making our body more susceptible to infections. Probiotics are living microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host. They are living microorganisms added to food which beneficially affect the host by improving its intestinal microbial balance. Intestine’s microbial colonization is determined by the maternal intestinal flora and surroundings. Oral cavity is a complex ecosystem which has rich and diverse microbiota. The change in environment may be due to illness, debility, behaviour, diet or medications. So, an obvious fact is that changes in this ecology may give rise to dental diseases. A slight change in environment promotes the potential pathogens gain competitive advantage under appropriate conditions. Then, the pathogens increase in great numbers to predispose a site to disease. In order to cure the disease, probiotic approach, may be used. In probiotic method, whole bacteria replacement therapy is given which may be very effective in eliminating the dangerous pathogens from the oral cavity. Different probiotics are provided in products such as in medicines, beverages, milk-based foods, dietary supplements, etc. This review highlights the effectiveness of probiotics in improving the oral health.