Prof. Dr. Rawee Teanpaisan at the PSU Faculty of Dentistry, together with Supatcharin Piwat, D.D.S. and team discovered a breakthrough in tooth decay prevention: the probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei, a species derived from the oral cavity, which has the ability to kill certain bacteria that cause tooth decay (Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus).

These findings are a culmination of 10 years in probiotic model research. The probiotic was tested with two groups of volunteers: an average group and one with a high risk of tooth decay (eg. cleft lip and palate patients). In both groups, the outcome was the same: volunteers who received probiotic milk powder showed a reduction of bacteria causing decayed tooth, compared with control volunteers who received general milk powder. Tooth decay reduction was clearer in the high-risk group than the low-risk group. What’s more, there were no side effects or adverse reactions observed in any of the volunteers in either project.

These results have been published internationally. Currently, researchers attempt to put the Lactobacillus paracasei SD1 probiotic within consumers’ reach by supplementing popular consumer products, such as powdered milk, milk pellets, yogurt and various juices. The next step could be the expansion of this project through international research collaboration.

This research was funded by the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and Higher Education Research Promotion under the Office of the Higher Education Commission.