INVESTIGATING THE POTENTIAL OF MICROBIAL BASED FORMULATIONS IN MAINTAINING ORAL HEALTH AND CONTROLLING HALITOSIS

Abstract

Halitosis and oral malodor significantly impaired social interactions and psychological wellbeing, yet conventional management relied heavily on chemical agents which caused dry mouth, toxicity, microbiome disruption, and environmental pollution. Despite growing interest in natural alternatives, limited empirical data existed on microbial-based formulations combining probiotics, prebiotics, and oral commensals for halitosis control. This study therefore investigated the potential of a microbial-based supplement in maintaining oral health and controlling halitosis.  Oral swab samples were collected from healthy individuals, and isolates were obtained and characterized appropriately. Lactobacillus acidophilus and Streptococcus salivarius were identified, and a supplement was formulated with lyophilized strains, inulin, and micronutrients. Microbial quality was assessed by total bacterial, coliform, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella-Shigella, and fungal counts. Antihalitosis efficacy was evaluated in vivo over 21 days with 120 participants divided into supplement, sodium chlorite, and chlorhexidine groups.  Results showed that the supplement contained 2.89 ± 0.01 log CFU/g total bacteria with no detectable pathogens or fungi. After 21 days, the supplement eliminated high and medium halitosis in all cases, leaving 118 participants normal and 2 with low halitosis, compared to 106 and 100 normal participants in the sodium chlorite and chlorhexidine groups respectively. Chi-square and ANOVA revealed significant differences among treatments (p < 0.05), with the supplement demonstrating superior efficacy.  The study concluded that the microbial-based formulation was safe, effective, and superior to chemical agents for halitosis management. It contributed to knowledge by providing evidence for probiotic-prebiotic oral supplements as sustainable alternatives to synthetic antimicrobials.