Oral Probiotics For Gingivitis & Periodontitis
Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects 42% of adults in the US. It is associated with higher rates of diabetes, Alzheimers, heart disease, and more.
Once you develop gum recession, you can only halt gum disease, not reverse it. Thats why its so important to stop gum disease before it does lasting damage.
At least 11 clinical trials show that oral probiotics may improve gum disease symptoms.
The best oral probiotics for gum disease are:
- L. reuteri
Improvements in gum disease from oral probiotics include:
- Reduced plaque under the gum line
- Lower gingival index
- Smaller pocket depth
Using dental probiotics as part of your oral care routine may reduce inflammation, stop bleeding gums, and crowd out the bacteria that cause gingivitis.
L. reuteri can improve symptoms of gingivitis and gum bleeding, while L. brevis seems to reduce inflammation.
What Exactly Is A Dental Probiotic
Dental probiotics are usually consumed as lozenges that are sucked on or chewed rather than swallowed. This method of delivery allows them to have the most contact time with the area theyre intended for.
Most lozenges contain between 1-3 bacterial strains that are native to the mouth area and have been shown in clinical research to support oral health.
The Brand Or Manufacturer
If you decide to purchase oral probiotics, make sure you do so from a manufacturer who offers well-known and reputable products. There are several reasons why you should buy these kinds of products.
Such manufacturers would want to maintain a competitive edge in the market, and this is the reason why they have to ensure that the goods they supply are of high quality. They, therefore, would not be willing to have it known that they are slacking on quality.
It would also be easier to hold such manufacturers accountable if they happen to sell sub-standard products. This is because they have a reputation to protect. Their probiotics are also difficult to imitate, and so there is a decent level of trust between the manufacturer and its buyers.
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Dental Probiotics For Plaque Prevention
Similar to cavity prevention, the same study mentioned above talks about the possibilities for plaque prevention as well because the bacteria strain Streptococcus A12 deters the growth and virulence of the caries pathogen S. mutans.
This pathogen converts sugar into lactic acid, creating an environment with a low pH , which results in a greater risk for plaque, and if not dealt with, cavities.
Oral Probiotics For Oral Cancer
Oral cancer may develop, in part, due to harmful bacteria in the mouth.
Correcting dysbiosis of the oral microbiome may decrease the risk of developing oral cancer, although no clinical trials with human patients have confirmed this theory.
According to two reviews published in 2020, oral probiotic strains that may stop oral cancer growth include:
- L. rhamnosus GG
- L. salivarius REN
More research is needed to draw serious conclusions.
There is no scientific evidence that oral probiotics can treat or reverse oral cancer in humans.
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Bad Breath How Probiotics Can Help
Bad breath also known as halitosis is generally the result of eating certain strong-smelling foods, poor oral health, dry mouth, or smoking. More specifically, however, its caused by volatile sulphur compounds in your mouth from bacteria that degrade food proteins and salivary glands.
There has been research conducted into whether gargling with a mouthwash fortified with probiotics, such as Streptococcus salivarius, can reduce or eliminate the compounds that cause bad breath. One study discovered that using a probiotic mouthwash resulted in a significant decrease in the production of volatile sulphur compounds, which helped reduce instances of halitosis.
Another study found that 85% of test subjects who used a probiotic over the course of three days saw a reduction in the amount of bacteria that causes bad breath. Gum and lozenges containing probiotics have also shown success in fighting halitosis.
How Can I Take Advantage Of The Benefits Of Probiotics
Probiotics are found in foods and also available in supplements. Increasing your intake of foods that naturally contain tooth-friendly bacteria, such as cottage cheese, yogurt, kefir, buttermilk, miso and sauerkraut, can be helpful. If youre not a fan of cottage cheese and sauerkraut, you may want to consider taking an oral probiotic. Probiotic supplements are available in lozenges, chewable tablets, mouth rinses and mints and can be used by children and adults. After you take the supplement, dont eat or drink for about 30 minutes.
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Fermented Foods The Original Diet For Dental Health
Its no coincidence that fermented foods are consumed across the globe. They are full of probiotic bacteria as well as prebiotic fibers that feed the mouth flora.
The key lies within the chemistry of Lactobacillus bacteria. These bacteria have the ability to convert sugars into lactic acid. They convert lactose or other sugars to lactic acid.
Lactic acid naturally preserves food by stunting the growth of harmful bacteria. It also increases or preserves the enzymes and vitamins for better digestion.
When fresh vegetables werent as readily available throughout the year, they were preserved through fermentation.
Probiotics To Reduce Dental Plaque
Dental plaque is asticky bacterial mass that grows as a biofilmon the surface of your teeth. Dental plaqueis one of the main causes of tooth decayand gum disease.
Disrupting thebuildup of dental plaque is importantfor preventing oral diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis.
Preliminary evidence suggests that probiotics may be helpful in reducing dental plaque:
- One clinical study found the use of a mouth rinse containing beneficial bacteria reduced dental plaque by more than 20 percent [8
Oral probiotics, in combination withconventional oral hygiene , mayhelp to reduce plaque and prevent oraldiseases.
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Let’s Talk About Oral Bacteria
There are billions of bacteria that call your mouth home. They come from many different places. They began colonizing when you were born, and then more are added throughout your life ingested with every glass of water your drink or every time you kiss someone.
Not all of them put their roots down in your mouth some simply pass through but plenty of them decide to set up camp in your mouth indefinitely.
These bacteria make up more than 700 different species of oral bacteria, and together they make up your oral microbiome. The healthy bacteria protect your mouth and help fight off decay, but the harmful bacteria can cause cavities and gum disease. All of these bacteria together form your biofilm, which is more commonly known as dental plaque.
When you have a healthy mouth, your bacteria live in harmony, but if you have a poor diet, poor oral hygiene, or other health and autoimmune issues, the balance is disrupted and the harmful bacteria can start to take over.
This is when myriad bad things can happen, including bad breath, decay, and tooth loss if left untreated.
Bacteria: Good Vs Bad
Chances are you have been prescribed an antibiotic for some reason or another in your life. There also exists a viable chance that those infection-combating pharmaceuticals also created uneasiness or havoc in the digestive system. While killing the bacteria responsible for creating the infection, unfortunately, these medications eliminate the good bacteria. Thats right your bodys biome needs certain bacteria that aid in digestion, promote repair of damaged tissue, and prevent harmful bacteria from colonizing and causing disease.1
The human body is compiled of microbes called the human microbiota that is present at birth. These bacteria live throughout the body, including the mouth, which alone houses billions of microorganisms.3 In fact, the human body has more bacteria than human cells.2
This ecosystem contains a slurry of good and bad bacteria necessary for the human body to maintain health. Depending on the species, the harmful bacteria colonizing in the oral cavity is responsible for calculus formation, gingivitis, halitosis, periodontitis, caries, and upper respiratory illness. The good bacteria can help fight off the bad, disrupts biofilm formation, and prevent tooth erosion that leads to caries.
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The Major Difference Between Regular And Oral Probiotics
- The major difference between the two probiotics is the method of delivery to the body and the types of organisms each is made with.
Regular probiotics have bacterial strains that are natively found in the gut. They are taken in a capsule form that is designed to enter your gut and resist the gastric juices and acidic pH of your stomach.
- Oral probiotics, on the other hand, have beneficial strains that are good for the oral microbiome. These probiotics are usually delivered through chewable tablets because they are meant to sit in your mouth for as long as they completely dissolve, making sure they get enough time to clear your oral microbiome.
With that aside, lets look at the 7 surprising benefits of Oral Probiotics for oral hygiene.
Dental Health For The Future
The addition of oral probiotics to an oral care regimen can restore the natural balance of beneficial bacteria, which can be depleted by poor nutrition, stress, medication, illness, and other factors. The use of probiotics in patients daily oral care regimen following routine prophylaxis or nonsurgical periodontal therapy has the potential to alter the microflora present in the mouth.8
The introduction of beneficial bacteria strains in the oral cavity can crowd out recolonization of unhealthy bacteria, including those that can cause bad breath. Additionally, oral probiotics may support tooth and gum health as well as whiten teeth. Oral care probiotics are a promising treatment option that may offer long-term improvements in oral care-something we can all smile about.
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Why Worry About The Microbiome
According to Wikipedia, The microbiome is defined as a characteristic microbial community occupying a reasonably well-defined habitat which has distinct physio-chemical properties. The microbiome not only refers to the microorganisms involved but also encompass their theatre of activity.
The oral cavity is the gateway to overall health. We now know that the bacteria in the mouth show correlation with many systemic diseases. Some of these conditions include but are not limited to diabetes, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimers disease and cancer. The bacteria found in the mouth inevitably enters the bloodstream and travels throughout your body.
This is why it is important to maintain a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria in your mouth. Improving your dental health and doing your best to keep the mouth healthy plays a significant part in your general overall health.
The good bacteria in oral probiotics support the health of your teeth and gums by creating new biofilms that replace the biofilms created by harmful bacteria. Dental probiotics also work by:
Learn more about the unique way dental oral probiotics specifically help to reduce and eliminate bad breath.
Oral Probiotics Guide For Periodontal Disease
Do your gums bleed when you brush your teeth? If they do, its a sign of immune imbalance. Oral probiotics may be a new frontier to cure bleeding gums and prevent gum disease.
Bleeding gums is the earliest stage of gum disease. Its estimated that 50% of the US population has gum disease. Many more people have bleeding gums.
Gum disease is a chronic condition thats difficult to treat. Its also linked to health problems such as heart disease and type II diabetes.
In the early stages, bleeding gums are a sign of oral flora imbalance. Balancing your oral and your gut microbiomes may be the key to a cure. This can stop the immune imbalance that causes bleeding gums.
Oral probiotics are known to have a positive effect on the gut and immune system. So can they may assist in healing gum disease?
Lets explore the potential of oral probiotics to heal gum disease.
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Oral Probiotics For Halitosis/bad Breath
3 studies on dental probiotics for halitosis found that good probiotics can reduce VSCs that cause bad breath. An additional study saw no VSC improvement although breath odor improved.
Oral probiotics are a much better remedy for bad breath than mouthwash. Most mouthwash kills not only bad bacteria but good along with it.
Dental probiotics may stop bad breath by reducing the compounds that cause halitosis.
The best dental probiotics for bad breath include:
- S. salivarius K12
- L. casei
Possible Roles Of Probiotics In The Oral Cavity
Accumulating research results point to the following activities of probiotics in the human oral cavity:
-
Aggregation with oral bacteria and
-
Interaction with oral epithelium.
In Cases 1 and 2, it is expected that, through such processes, modulation of the oralbiofilm composition will take place . This would result in reducing the pathogenicity and cariogenic potential of biofilm microorganisms as well as reducing the potential pathogens burden in oral biofilm . The final outcome will definitely present a clear path for caries, gingivitis and periodontal management .
As for interaction with oral epithelium, research results point out the ability of the probiotic bacteria to strengthen the epithelial barrier function , in addition to modulating the innate and adaptive immune responses . summarizes the probable combined effects of probiotics on oral health.
The envisaged probiotic roles in the oral cavity.
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Gut Vs Oral Probiotics
It is important to distinguish between the two to get the most dental benefits since method of delivery and the organisms present are different between these two types of probiotics. When you get a probiotic for gut health, the strains in the supplement are those that are native to this area of your body. In most cases, this type also comes in capsule form so that it can resist the digestive systems acidic pH.
The oral type is meant for your dental health and it contains the probiotic strains that your oral microbiome needs for optimal health. When you are choosing a dental probiotic, you want to choose a supplement that has the following strains:
Lactobacillus reuteri Lactobacillus sakei
Oral Probiotics For Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, two oval-shaped pads of tissue at the back of the throat.
Oral probiotics may reduce symptoms of recurrent tonsillitis.
The best probiotic for tonsillitis is S. salivarius K12.
In a 2020 clinical trial, an oral probiotic given for 30 days provided rapid relief for symptoms of recurrent tonsillitis. It also resulted in a marked improvement in the microbiome of the upper respiratory tract.
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What About Bad Breath
Gingivitis is very serious gum disease. It can lead to the development of tender gums. Also, sensitive teeth and inflammation within the gums. Probiotics are able to reduce the symptoms you experience rid when affected by gingivitis. This disease is from poor oral health. Probiotics may be able to get rid of your case of gingivitis altogether.
Keep in mind that an untreated case of gingivitis can bring about tooth loss. And many other serious conditions. The bacterias that can rid inflammation include Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus brevis. The best way to reduce oral inflammation is by drinking probiotic milk.
How Do Probiotics Affect Oral Health
Research is ongoing to determine if probiotics can improve oral health, too. Many consider them an effective and natural way of fighting gum disease, plaque, bad breath, and maybe even cancer. For example, one studyshowed probiotics might reduce infection-producing microbes, also called pathogens . Adding more probiotic-rich foods into your diet may stop, slow, or delay the infection process that leads to oral disease.
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Are Dental Probiotics The Same As Gut Probiotics
No. Dental probiotics and gut probiotics are not the same. There are different organisms included in each, with some overlap, and the optimal method of delivery for each is also different.
To put it simply, gut probiotics contain strains of bacteria that naturally grow in the gut. And oral probiotics contain bacterial strains that naturally grow in the mouth.
In the video below you can see the maker of Great Oral Health oral probiotics explain the difference between dental and gut probiotics.
What Are Dental Probiotics
Probiotics that are taken orally can help to support your oral health. They are a type of living organism and the supplements are generally a combination of various yeasts and bacteria. Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus are the most common probiotic groups and there are multiple strains in each of these.
There are microorganism colonies living in your mouth and the majority of these bacteria are not bad. The ones that are classified as probiotics are actually beneficial to your dental health and help to protect you against the bad bacteria that put you at risk for gum disease and tooth decay.
When taken orally, the probiotics in the supplements are directly delivered to your mouth, allowing for easy colonization of your oral biofilms. There are some toothpastes on the market that contain probiotics. However, most dental probiotics come in the form of a chewable tablet, mouth rinse, lozenge or drink.
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Benefits Of Oral Probiotics & Best Strains
Probiotics are microorganisms that provide benefits to humans from the prevention of bad breath and cavities to improved gum health.
Probiotics in oral health are supported by years of research, although the number of human clinical trials is limited.
Still, many patients are unaware of the potential benefits that dental probiotics can offer.
Most Beneficial Strains For Dental Health
Throughout our lifetime, and for some, on a daily basis, our beneficial bacteria is in jeopardy. Use of antibiotics will destroy both the good and the bad bacteria in the mouth. This is also true for regular use of antimicrobial mouthwashes. You see, contrary to belief, it is not a good idea to attempt to remove all the bacteria from the mouth. We actually need a careful balance of both good and bad bacteria in our mouth at all times to maintain oral health! This careful balance is what is referred to as the oral microbiome. Scientists have researched and discovered the most beneficial bacteria strains targeted specifically for the oral microbiome in our mouths:
- Streptococcus Salivarius K12
According to an article How Do Dental Probiotics Work? these are the benefits of each of these ingredients:
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