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Probiotics are non-pathogenic living microorganisms which have been added to various foods because of their beneficial effects for human health. There has been a paradigm shift of treatment from specific bacterial elimination to altering bacterial ecology by probiotics. With the increase in the incidence of résistance to antibiotics, probiotics may be a promising area in research in periodontal therapy. They play a beneficial role in preventing common oral health problems such as dental carries, periodontal disease, fungal Infections (Candida) and halitosis. A complete understanding of the broad ecologic changes in the mouth is essential to assess their long term consequences of oral health and disease. The paper reviews the evidence for the use of probiotics and prebiotics for maintenance of oral health and for the prevention of periodontal disease.