Probiotics for Oral Health Review

The popularity of Probiotics has been gaining speed over the last couple of decades, but science and medicine have only recently caught up when it comes to oral health.

Probiotics are generally used most commonly for issues of the gut and digestive system, providing a healthy bacterial flora balance within the stomach.

Recent research suggests that this benefit alone is good for other systems of the body, including the teeth and gums.

What are Probiotics?

Probiotics are considered friendly or good bacteria which can be introduced into the body to straighten out imbalance. It is a microbial food ingredient, such as what is found in fermented foods and yogurts or cheeses.

They are known to be active and alive microbes and through various food sources, influence the mucous membranes to keep the body regular, with proper circulation and brings overall health.

It should be clear that these microorganisms are alive, which is part of the appeal. They combat ‘bad’ bacteria with ‘good’ bacteria.

There are various probiotic strains that benefit different parts of the body.

Foods with Probiotics for Oral Health:

• Kefir
• Cottage cheese
• Yogurt
• Buttermilk
• Kombucha
• Sauerkraut
• Raw Jerusalem artichokes
• Unrefined wheat (including raw oats and barley)

The Health of Your Mouth is Important

As we know, oral health is one of the most important parts of wellness in the human body. Serious illnesses with regards to oral health can cause extreme pain or even death.

• Some common concerning conditions of poor oral health include:
• Plaque buildup which can clog arteries
• Diseases of the gums
• Dry rot
• Infection in the roots of the teeth affecting the blood stream

If you are suffering from any of these conditions, then you may find that probiotics for your gums, teeth or mouth may help you. Unlike strains to help with digestion concerns, oral probiotics are more sensitive, and the advent of oral probiotics has been very slow moving.

The key has been about finding what kind of strain is going to be most appropriate for the oral cavity. There is bacterium in the mouth already just from day to day life and it becomes pertinent when trying to find healthy bacteria that you choose strains which are similar.

For example, gut probiotics cannot be used for gingival health. However, the probiotics for oral health selection are able to assist. It is all about picking the right one for your specific oral needs.

Which Oral Probiotic Strain is the Best?

In order to determine the correct strains which can be used to heal issues of the mouth, researchers had to find completely healthy people to test on to determine:

• What type of bacteria is normal and healthy for the gums and mouth?
• Age groups and the variability between the elderly and the young.
• Sterile environments and eliminating unhealthy subjects from the testing field.

Luckily they were able to find the right strains and now use those overall to create oral probiotic medicine. Having the focus finally shifted to probiotics for oral health instead of just digestive is a great step forward. As a result, a huge array of probiotics which include viable bacteria to aid in oral health has hit the market.

In recent times therefore, research shows probiotic bacteria has an effect on oral microbiota as well as immune system responses much the same as it helps in other areas of the body.

These oral probiotic strains are on the rise and you can find versions of them housed in many new food supplements and they have been categorized in many of the fermented foods we all know and love.

Difficulties with Probiotics for Oral Health

Because the science of probiotics for oral health is somewhat newer, the consistent challenge has been to encourage growth of healthy bacteria by filling the holes found in the oral biofilm which is where the cariogenic bacteria is housed. In order to do this, a particular strain of probiotics must be used.

But to find the right kind, a clean and sterile environment needs to exist and most often times the mouth is already full of ‘bad’ bacteria. Over time, medical advances has made this process much easier because they discovered something called ProBiora which has original strains taken from people who are healthy. This particular probiotic supplement is found in EvoraPro and can be taken as a lozenge.

It is recommended that the lozenge be given to children at a young age to create a habit of healthy bacteria in the mouth which sets a strong foundation for oral health.

The treatment of oral diseases with probiotics basically creates a healthier environment for the correct bacteria to take over. When a disease or infection exists, it is because the environment is out of balance, so probiotics are a natural and easy way to get things back on track in the mouth.

Bacteria residing in dental plaque needs to be controlled so that the plaque doesn’t have an environment where it is comfortable enough to spread. Probiotics for oral health will make the environment inhospitable and increase gum health.

General Probiotic strains are a part of the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genera. In oral health, particularly in saliva the L. paracasei, L. rhamnosus, L. plantarum and L.salivarius probiotics are found. In separated studies, oral specific bacteria are B. Dentium, B. longum and B. bifidum.

Probiotics for oral health are commonly used for:

Housing Healthy Intestinal Microbiota

Otherwise known as gut flora, Probiotics for oral health allow bad bacteria found in our gums to cycle out through the gut as waste. Gut microbiota refers to the microbe population that exists inside of our intestines, so having healthy microbiota means having healthy body processes.

Normalizing The Immune Response In The Body

Probiotics for oral health help to regulate the immune response inside of the gums and mouth. It clears out toxins or potentially infectious material which clings to our teeth and gums through our food, which strengthens our immune system making us less susceptible to gum or teeth related diseases.

The culture distilled in the L. acidophilus strain can help with:

• Inflammation
• Gingivitis
• Periodontitis
• Pregnancy gingivitis
• Gum bleeding
• Halitosis

Voice Prosthesis:

Recent studies have even shown that probiotics will strengthen voice prosthesis by stopping unhealthy microbes from taking roost in the mechanism itself which otherwise has the potential for serious infection.

Decrease Infection For High Risk Individuals:

In high risk groups, such as in elderly who wear dentures, or in smokers, probiotic tablets containing L. Salivarius has helped decrease the painful symptoms of gum infections.

Recently, various types of cheeses and dairy strains are used in oral probiotics to heal periodontal diseases, and new probiotic mouthwashes have been created with three different types of probiotics to handle whatever strain is necessary to even the playing fields of the mouth.

A word of caution

The general populace will benefit from most types of probiotics as the body doesn’t consider these as alien. However, those who are immunocompromised, such as those going through chemotherapy or suffering from HIV/AIDS should be sure to refer to their medical practitioner to make sure that taking probiotics is safe for them.

In some cases such as these, the probiotics will do the exact opposite of what they are intended to do and actually lower the immune system and can cause infection as the body doesn’t have the faculties to know the difference between good and bad bacteria.

This can be extremely life threatening.

With regards to probiotic lozenges or mints, some of the sweeteners which can be used are also a concern. As those who are allergic to artificial sweeteners could have a poor response.

Mouth pain is no fun! The best way to avoid troubles with your teeth and gums is to prevent them from the start. If you already have symptoms, be sure to see a dental professional for diagnosis. You can work with them to design the right oral health supplement plan. Let them know that you are already using probiotics already.  They may also suggest other oral health supplements that will work best for you.

Get the Right Probiotics for Your Oral Health

There is no longer a reason to suffer. You have natural solutions to your mouth pains at your fingertips. Browse through the oral health probiotics and see the difference once you begin including them in your diet.