Evaluation of the Oral Microbiome before and after Treatments for Halitosis with Photodynamic Therapy and Probiotics—Pilot Study

To compare photodynamic therapy and the use of probiotics in reducing halitosis assessed through gas chromatography and microbiome analysis. Participants aged from 18 to 25 years showing sulfide (SH2) ≥ 112 ppb on gas chromatography were selected. They were divided into four treatment groups: Group 1-Tongue Scraping; Group 2-Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy (aPDT); Group 3-Probiotics; and Group 4-Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy (aPDT) and Probiotics. The halimetry process was performed before, immediately after the treatments, and 7 days, 14 days, and 30 days after the initial collection. The collections for later microbiological analysis were made along with the halimetry for microbiome analysis. Treatment with aPDT or probiotics under these experimental conditions was not able to change the bacteria present in the biofilm of the tongue. More research is needed to know the behavior of the oral microbiome in the presence of halitosis and the effectiveness of new treatments.