Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42819081›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in dental medicine2026

Effect of probiotic interventions on oral health in children: a systematic review.

Smruti Bondre, Vabitha Shetty, Mausam Kumari, Urvashi Shetty

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in dental medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Smruti BondreDepartment of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, NITTE (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
Vabitha ShettyDepartment of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, NITTE (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
Mausam KumariDepartment of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, NITTE (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
Urvashi ShettyDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Microbiology, AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, NITTE (Deemed to be University), Mangalore, Karnataka, India.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Early childhood caries (ECC) is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases affecting young children worldwide. Probiotic supplementation has emerged as a potential adjunctive strategy for modifying the oral microbiome and reducing caries risk; however, evidence regarding its effectiveness remains inconsistent. This review evaluated the effects of probiotic interventions on oral health outcomes in children under 6 years of age, with emphasis on probiotic-based interventions and their influence on caries incidence, microbial changes, and biological mechanisms. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines up to June 2026. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, non-randomized intervention studies, and Results: Twenty-one studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising 13 randomized controlled trials, three non-randomized intervention studies, and five Conclusion: Probiotic supplementation appears to be a promising adjunct to conventional preventive strategies for improving oral microbial profiles and reducing caries progression in preschool children. However, the observed benefits appear to be strain-specific, and considerable heterogeneity across interventions and outcome measures limits definitive clinical recommendations. Further high-quality, adequately powered randomized controlled trials with standardized probiotic regimens, uniform caries assessment. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251229276, PROSPERO CRD420251229276.

Indexed as

early childhood cariesoral microbiomeparaprobioticspreschool childrenprobioticsStreptococcus mutanssynbioticssystematic review

Identifiers

PMID42819081
PMCPMC13623579

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.