Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

7 questions · 7 findings · 3 reviews · Dental caries

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No studies found 0 · 0%GRADE not reported 6 · 85.7%Very low 1 · 14.3%Low 0 · 0%Moderate 0 · 0%High 0 · 0%

Lactobacillus-derived postbiotics vs Not specified

Streptococcus mutans growth and biofilm formation · Cariogenic bacteria (mainly Streptococcus mutans reference strains) and oral biofilms in vitro

No meta-analysis was conducted; the narrative synthesis reported inhibition of Streptococcus mutans growth and biofilm formation.

1 finding from 1 review

Postbiotics and Dental Caries: A Systematic Review. 2025 All outcomes
24 h to 7 days · laboratory setting
no estimate extracted
12 studies
GRADE not reported

Lactobacillus-derived postbiotics vs Not specified

Virulence-gene expression related to adhesion acid production and exopolysaccharide synthesis · Cariogenic bacteria (mainly Streptococcus mutans reference strains) and oral biofilms in vitro

No meta-analysis was conducted; the narrative synthesis reported reduced expression of Streptococcus mutans virulence genes.

1 finding from 1 review

Postbiotics and Dental Caries: A Systematic Review. 2025 All outcomes
24 h to 7 days · laboratory setting
no estimate extracted
7 studies
GRADE not reported

Probiotic mouthwash (e.g., Lactobacillus-based) vs Blank control

Cariogenic bacteria (Mutans streptococci) · Orthodontic patients (any age) undergoing orthodontic treatment (mostly fixed appliances)

Probiotic mouthwash has inconsistent effects on Mutans streptococci colony counts versus blank control; the evidence is very uncertain (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

The efficacy of mouthwashes on oral microorganisms and gingivitis in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment:… 2023 All outcomes
<=3 months (short-term) · Orthodontic patients undergoing orthodontic treatment (randomized controlled trials; multiple countries)
Colony count of MS was significantly reduced compared to blank control [53]. Colony count of MS was insignificantly increased compared to baseline [33].
2 studies
Very low

Significant salivary microbial (Lactobacillus) load vs No/low significant microbial load

Dental caries · Primary school children in Ethiopia

A significant salivary microbial (Lactobacillus) load was associated with higher odds of dental caries (OR 3.82, 95% CI 3.439-4.192; ungraded).

1 finding from 1 review

Prevalence of dental caries and associated factors among primary school children in Ethiopia: systematic review and… 2024 All outcomes
Schools; Ethiopia (Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, Finote Selam, Harer, Debre Birhan, North Showa)
OR 3.82 [3.439, 4.192]
Studies not reported
GRADE not reported

Postbiotics from Lactobacillus spp. (cell-free supernatants, biosurfactants, lipoteichoic acid, bacterial lysates) vs No prior SDF application (untreated dentin control)

Downregulation of S. mutans virulence/biofilm gene expression (gtfB, gtfC, ftf) · Cariogenic bacteria (mainly Streptococcus mutans reference strains) and oral biofilms in vitro

Postbiotics reduce expression of S. mutans biofilm/virulence genes (gtfB, gtfC, ftf) in vitro (ungraded narrative synthesis).

1 finding from 1 review

Postbiotics and Dental Caries: A Systematic Review. 2025 All outcomes
Exposure 24 h to 7 days · Laboratory (in vitro)
Postbiotics downregulated expression of S. mutans virulence and exopolysaccharide-synthesis genes (e.g., gtfB, gtfC, gtfD, ftf) in 10 in vitro studies; no pooled estimate.
8 studies
GRADE not reported

Postbiotics from Lactobacillus spp. (cell-free supernatants, biosurfactants, lipoteichoic acid, bacterial lysates) vs No prior SDF application (untreated dentin control)

Proposed inhibition of S. mutans adhesion to tooth surface (mechanism; direct adherence endpoint confirmed only in Ahn 2018) · Cariogenic bacteria (mainly Streptococcus mutans reference strains) and oral biofilms in vitro

Postbiotics inhibit S. mutans adhesion to tooth surfaces in vitro (ungraded narrative synthesis).

1 finding from 1 review

Postbiotics and Dental Caries: A Systematic Review. 2025 All outcomes
Exposure 24 h to 7 days · Laboratory (in vitro)
Postbiotics (mainly biosurfactants and lipoteichoic acid) interfered with S. mutans adhesion to tooth/hydroxyapatite surfaces in 5 in vitro studies; no pooled estimate.
5 studies
GRADE not reported

Postbiotics from Lactobacillus spp. (cell-free supernatants, biosurfactants, lipoteichoic acid, bacterial lysates) vs No prior SDF application (untreated dentin control)

Reduced enamel demineralization · Cariogenic bacteria (mainly Streptococcus mutans reference strains) and oral biofilms in vitro

A single in vitro study found postbiotics reduce enamel demineralization (ungraded).

1 finding from 1 review

Postbiotics and Dental Caries: A Systematic Review. 2025 All outcomes
Exposure 24 h to 7 days · Laboratory (in vitro)
One in vitro multispecies-biofilm study reported that a postbiotic (L. reuteri cell-free supernatant) reduced enamel demineralization, indicating a protective effect against caries; no pooled estimate.
1 study
GRADE not reported