TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose This paper aims to focus on the utilisation of pre- and probiotics for oral care and the state of knowledge at this time.Design/methodology/approach Pre- and probiotics describe beneficial carbohydrates and microbiota, respectively, for optimal gut health. Carbohydrates provide energy selectively for the gut-friendly bacteria. The use of both carbohydrates and bacteria is, however, being expanded into other areas of the body – including the skin, vagina and oral cavity – for health-related applications.Findings There is increased interest in both pre- and probiotics for oral care products. The importance of oral microflora and their selective substrates is discussed against a background of contemporary oral care approaches. The issues and benefits are discussed in this review.Originality/value It is clear that consumption of prebiotics and probiotics may play a role as potential prophylactic or therapeutic agents for reducing the presence of organisms in the mouth associated with tooth decay. To confirm a beneficial effect of pre- and probiotics further in vivo studies involving healthy human volunteers should be considered.
VL  - 48
IS  - 1
SN  - 0034-6659
DO  - 10.1108/NFS-03-2017-0056
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-03-2017-0056
AU  - Tester Richard Frank
AU  - Al-Ghazzewi Farage H.
PY  - 2018
Y1  - 2018/01/01
TI  - Role of prebiotics and probiotics in oral health
T2  - Nutrition & Food Science
PB  - Emerald Publishing Limited
SP  - 16
EP  - 29
Y2  - 2024/04/24
ER  -