You’ve heard the term “probiotics” thrown around a lot these days. But what are dental probiotics all about and how can they help?
In a nutshell, dental probiotics are strains of bacteria that are beneficial to your overall oral health and — Surprise! — they already exist in your mouth, and they help maintain a balance and pH level of your oral microbiome.
Using oral probiotic supplements can help fight against gum disease, bad breath and oral decay — they can return your oral microbiome to a healthy balance (Ahhh…).
Want to learn more? Here is a Q & A session all about dental probiotics. Enjoy!
Q1. What are dental probiotics?
Dental probiotics are strains of bacteria that are good for your oral health. These bacteria already exist in your mouth and help maintain a healthy balance and pH level of your oral microbiome.
Sometimes, this balance can get out of whack and bad bacteria can outgrow the good bacteria. This can lead to problems like caries (cavities) and periodontitis (“Ouch!” and “Expensive!”).
Taking oral probiotic supplements can help fight against bad breath, gum disease, and decay, and return your oral microbiome to a healthy balance.
Q2. How do dental probiotics work?
Dental probiotics work by encouraging the growth of good bacteria in your mouth.
This helps keep a balance in your microbiome and levels out the pH. They have been shown to increase gum health, reduce plaque, and freshen breath.
Q3. What are some potential benefits of dental probiotics?
Dental probiotics are beneficial for both the health of your gums and your teeth. They can help prevent cavities and gum disease by promoting the growth of good bacteria in your mouth.
Q4. Are there any side effects of taking dental probiotics?
Dental probiotic supplements not only show promise for the prevention or treatment of oral disease but also cause little to no side effects.
Q5. How long does it take for dental probiotics to work?
The length of time it takes for dental probiotics to work varies depending on the individual and their oral health needs.
Q6. What does research say about dental probiotics?
Research has shown that dental probiotics can reduce gum bleeding in patients with moderate to severe gingivitis, according to one study published in the Swedish Dental Journal ¹.
They have also been shown to prevent cavities by improving the immunity of the mouth, producing antibacterial compounds to fight certain cavity-causing bacteria, preventing bad bacteria from attaching to the teeth, altering the pH of the mouth to stop cavity growth, and changing the saliva quality to improve remineralization of enamel according to research findings ⁴ .
Q7. What are some common types of dental probiotics?
Some common types of dental probiotics include Streptococcus salivarius K12 and M18 according to research findings³.
Q8. How do I take dental probiotics?
Dental probiotics can be taken as supplements in pill or powder form or as lozenges that dissolve in your mouth according to research findings².
Q9. Are there any precautions I should take when taking dental probiotics?
If you have a high risk for infections, you should be extra cautious when taking concentrated supplements³.
In sum, we’re pro probiotics…
Dental probiotics are an effective way to promote good oral health by encouraging the growth of good bacteria in your mouth according to research findings¹ ⁴ . They have been shown to increase gum health, reduce plaque, and freshen breath by promoting a healthy balance in your oral microbiome . If you’re interested in trying dental probiotics, speak with us first.
Sources:
A Critical Appraisal of the Effects of Probiotics on Oral Health.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464620302097
Probiotics: A Promising Role in Dental Health – PMC.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5806962