The Adjunctive Role of Probiotics in Periodontal Therapy: A Narrative Review
Featured Application
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
3. Literature Review
3.1. Periodontitis
3.2. Probiotics
3.3. Probiotic Mechanisms of Action in Periodontal Tissues and the Host Systemic Response
3.4. Clinical Evidence
| Study | Probiotic Strain | Treatment Type | Administration | Probiotic Protocol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riccia et al. (2007) [64] | L. brevis CD2 | Probiotic only | Systemic | 4×/day; 4 days |
| Shimauchi et al. (2008) [51] | L. salivarius | Probiotic only | Systemic | 3×/day, 8 weeks |
| Mayanagi et al. (2009) [65] | L. salivarius WB21 | Probiotic only | Systemic | 3×/day, 8 weeks |
| Vicario et al. (2013) [66] | L. reuteri ATCC 55730 and ATCCPTA 5289 | Probiotic only | Systemic | 1×/day, 30 days |
| Teughels et al. (2013) [40] | L. reuteri ATCC PTA 5289 and DSM 17938 | SRP + probiotic | Systemic | 2×/day, 12 weeks |
| Szkaradkiewicz et al. (2014) [50] | L. reuteri ATCC PTA 5289 | SRP + probiotic | Systemic | 2×/day, 2 weeks |
| Laleman et al. (2015) [52] | S. oralis KJ3, S. uberis KJ2, S. rattus JH145 | SRP + probiotic | Systemic | 2×/day, 12 weeks |
| İnce et al. (2015) [59] | L. reuteri ATCC PTA 5289 and DSM-17938 | SRP + probiotic | Systemic | 2×/day, 3 weeks |
| Tekce et al. (2015) [55] | L. reuteri ATCC PTA 5289 and DSM 17938 | SRP + probiotic | Systemic | 2×/day, 3 weeks |
| Morales et al. (2016) [67] | L. rhamnosus SP1 | SRP + probiotic | Systemic | 1×/day, 3 months |
| Morales et al. (2018) [68] | L. rhamnosus SP1 | SRP + probiotic | Systemic | 1×/day, 3 months |
| Dhaliwal et al. (2017) [69] | Multi strain | SRP + probiotic | Systemic | 2×/day, 21 days |
| Invernici et al. (2018) [70] | B. lactis HN019 | SRP + probiotic | Systemic | 2×/day, 30 days |
| Sajedinejad et al. (2018) [71] | L. salivarius NK02 | SRP + probiotic | Local | 2×/day, 28 days |
| Laleman et al. (2020) [21] | L. reuteri ATCC PTA 5289 and DSM-17938 | Re-instrumentation + probiotic | Systemic | 2×/day, 12 weeks |
| Theodoro et al. (2019) [72] | L. reuteri ATCC PTA 5289 and DSM-17938 | SRP + probiotic | Systemic | 2×/day, 21 days |
| Yuki et al. (2019) [20] | L. rhamnosus L802 | Probiotic only | Systemic | 90 days |
| Vohra et al. (2020) [73] | L. reuteri ATCC PTA 5289 and DSM-17938 | SRP + probiotic | Systemic | 2×/day, 21 days |
| Kang et al. (2020) [53] | Weissella cibaria CMU | SRP + probiotic | Systemic | 1×/day, 8 weeks |
| Invernici et al. (2020) [74] | B. lactis HN019 | SRP + probiotic | Systemic | 2×/day, 30 days |
| Minić et al. (2022) [63] | Multi strain formulation: L. acidophilus, B. infantis and Enterococcus faecium | SRP + local probiotic | Local | Daily for 5 days |
| Elsadek et al. (2020) [75] | L. reuteri ATCC PTA 5289 and DSM-17938 | SRP + probiotic | Systemic | 3×/day, 3 weeks |
| Nędzi-Góra et al. (2020) [76] | L. salivarius SGL03 | Supportive therapy | Systemic | 1×/day, 30 days |
| Pelekos et al. (2020) [77] | L. reuteri ATCC PTA 5289 and DSM-17938 | SRP + probiotic | Systemic | 2×/day, 28 days |
| Morales et al. (2021) [78] | L. rhamnosus SP1 | SRP + probiotic | Systemic | 1×/day, 3 months |
| Pudgar et al. (2021) [79] | L. brevis CECT7480 and L. plantarum CECT7481 | SRP + probiotic | Local + systemic | 1×/day, 3 months |
| Ramos et al. (2022) [80] | L. reuteri ATCC PTA 5289 and DSM-17938 | SRP + probiotics | Systemic | 2×/day, 21 days |
| Gullapelli & Koduganti (2023) [81] | Not specified | SRP + local probiotic delivery | Local | Single application post-SRP |
| Şahin et al. (2024) [82] | Multi strain tablets and Kefir | SRP + probiotic or Kefir | Systemic | 1×/day, 14 days |
| Grusovin et al. (2020) [57] | L. reuteri ATCC PTA 5289 and DSM-17938 | Supportive therapy | Systemic | 2×/day; 3 months × 2 cycle with 3 months of washout |
| Jardini et al. (2024) [83] | L. reuteri ATCC PTA 5289 and DSM-17938 | SRP + probiotic | Systemic | 2×/day, 21 days |
| Poulose et al. (2024) [54] | Multi strain (S. faecalis, C. butyricum, B. mesentericus, L. sporogenes, S. boulardii) | SRP + subgingival probiotic placement | Local | Single application |
| Bujaldón et al. (2026) [84] | L. reuteri ATCC PTA 5289 and DSM-17938 | SRP + probiotic | Systemic | 2×/day, 3 months |
| Clinical Parameter | Effect vs. Control | Clinical Outcome (Mean Difference) | Authors | Follow-Up Timeframe (Months) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PD (mean) | + * | 0.28–1.2 mm reduction | [21,40,54,55,57,59,63,66,70,71,72,77] | 1–12 |
| N/A ** | No statistically significant difference | [20,51,52,68,69,73,75,76,78,79,80,81,83,84] | 3 | |
| CAL (mean) | + * | 0.11–0.8 mm gain | [40,50,54,55,57,58,59,70] | 3–12 |
| N/A ** | Comparable outcomes (no significant difference) | [52,67,68,69,75,78,79,80,82,83,84] | 3 | |
| % BOP (mean) | + * | Significant reduction in bleeding scores | [55,57,59,63,66,70,74] | 1–12 |
| N/A ** | No statistically significant difference | [20,51,52,53,67,68,77,78,80,83,84] | 1–6 |
3.5. Systemic Effects of Probiotics in Periodontal Therapy
4. Discussion
Future Directions
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
| SRP | scaling and root planing |
| SANRA | scale for the assessment of narrative review articles |
| PD | probing depth |
| BOP | bleeding on probing |
| DM | diabetes mellitus |
| WHO | World Health Organization |
| FAO | food and agriculture organization of the United Nations |
| NF-κB | nuclear factor kappa b |
| MAPK | mitogen-activated protein kinase |
| IL- | interleukin |
| TNF-α | tumor necrosis factor-α |
| MMP- | matrix metalloproteinases |
| PI | plaque index |
| CAL | clinical attachment level |
| TLR4 | toll-like receptor 4 |
| CD | cluster of differentiation |
| HbA1c | glycated hemoglobin |
| LDL | low-density lipoprotein |
| HDL | high-density lipoprotein |
| TGF-β | transforming growth factor beta |
| CFU | colony-forming units |
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de Campos Kajimoto, N.; Hernandez Matinez, C.d.J.; Loomer, P.M.; de Paiva Buischi, Y.; Punhagui Hernandes, A.C. The Adjunctive Role of Probiotics in Periodontal Therapy: A Narrative Review. Appl. Sci. 2026, 16, 3753. https://doi.org/10.3390/app16083753
de Campos Kajimoto N, Hernandez Matinez CdJ, Loomer PM, de Paiva Buischi Y, Punhagui Hernandes AC. The Adjunctive Role of Probiotics in Periodontal Therapy: A Narrative Review. Applied Sciences. 2026; 16(8):3753. https://doi.org/10.3390/app16083753
Chicago/Turabian Stylede Campos Kajimoto, Natalia, Cristhiam de Jesus Hernandez Matinez, Peter Michael Loomer, Yvonne de Paiva Buischi, and Ana Carolina Punhagui Hernandes. 2026. "The Adjunctive Role of Probiotics in Periodontal Therapy: A Narrative Review" Applied Sciences 16, no. 8: 3753. https://doi.org/10.3390/app16083753
APA Stylede Campos Kajimoto, N., Hernandez Matinez, C. d. J., Loomer, P. M., de Paiva Buischi, Y., & Punhagui Hernandes, A. C. (2026). The Adjunctive Role of Probiotics in Periodontal Therapy: A Narrative Review. Applied Sciences, 16(8), 3753. https://doi.org/10.3390/app16083753

