The Effect of Probiotic Yogurt Consumption on Salivary pH in Active Smokers

Backgrounds: One of the efforts to maintain salivary pH balance is through the consumption of probiotics. Probiotic yogurt contains various nutrients and beneficial bacteria that can increase salivary pH. Active smokers tend to have a lower salivary pH, which increases the risk of dental caries. Consuming probiotic yogurt may help neutralize oral acidity in smokers and support oral health. Objectives: This research aims to examine the effect of consuming probiotic yogurt on the salivary pH of active smokers. Methods: This research employed a clinical experimental design using a pretest-posttest with control group approach. Data normality was tested using the Shapiro-Wilk test, while statistical analysis was conducted using the Paired Sample T-Test followed by the Independent T-Test. Results: The statistical test showed a significant increase in the salivary pH of active smokers (P = 0.000) after consuming probiotic yogurt. Conclusion: Consuming probiotic yogurt can effectively increase the salivary pH of active smokers.