Effects of Lactobacillus salivarius-containing tablets on caries risk factors: a randomized open-label clinical trial

Table 3 Changes in levels of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli, salivary flow, salivary pH, and salivary buffering capacity after taking the tablet [median (IQR)]

Group ( n)	L. salivarius WB21	L. salivarius TI 2711	Ovalgen® DC	Xylitol	P value*
Items	(n = 17)	(n = 16)	(n = 13)	(n = 18)
Mutans streptococci level	0.0 (−1.0 to 0.0)	0.0 (0.0 to 1.3)	0.0 (−1.0 to 1.0)	0.0 (0.0 to 2.0)	0.214
Lactobacilli level	3.0 (2.0 to 3.0)	2.5 (2.0 to 3.0)	0.0 (0.0 to 0.5)	0.0 (−0.3 to 0.0)	<0.001†
Salivary flow (mL per 3 min)	0.0 (−0.5 to 0.0)	0.0 (−0.4 to 0.5)	−0.5 (−1.0 to 0.0)	−0.5 (−1.1 to 0.0)	0.172
Salivary pH	0.0 (0.0 to 0.2)	0.2 (0.0 to 0.3)	0.1 (0.0 to 0.2)	0.0 (−0.1 to 0.3)	0.715
Buffering capacity	0.0 (−0.4 to 0.3)	0.0 (−0.2 to 0.4)	0.2 (0.0 to 0.3)	−0.3 (−0.6 to −0.1)	0.004§

*The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to evaluate the differences among the four groups.
†Significantly different pairs: L. salivarius WB21 vs. Ovalgen® DC, P = 0.001; L. salivarius WB21 vs. Xylitol, P = 0.001; L. salivarius TI 2711 vs. Ovalgen® DC, P = 0.007; and L. salivarius TI 2711 vs. Xylitol, P = 0.002 (Wilcoxon rank-sum test).
§Significantly different pairs: L. salivarius TI 2711 vs. Xylitol, P = 0.003; and Ovalgen® DC vs. Xylitol, P = 0.002 (Wilcoxon rank-sum test).

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