Do you bleed when you are brushing or flossing your teeth? if so then there is a definite imbalance in your immune system which needs addressing.
This can be done through the implementation of probiotics but they have to be the right kind of strains to help you with oral issues.
But the Benefits of taking Probiotics For Teeth And Gums are immense and include:
- Better overall connection between the digestive and oral system
- Probiotic organisms are the first line of defence against pathogenic invaders
- It’s not just Oral health that will benefit but the whole body system
- Some people have reversed allergies through the consumption of Probiotics
But if you want to learn the specifics about the relationship between Probiotic bacteria and a healthy mouth then make sure to read the full article otherwise you will miss out on the important bits.
The Oral Microbiome
Also referred to as the oral micro flora, oral microbiota, to date around 280 species of bacteria have been formally identified and named. These bacteria live harmoniously together in various areas such as:
- Teeth
- Gingival sulcus
- tongue
- cheek
- hard and soft palates
- tonsils
We tend to focus primarily on teeth and gums to keep our mouth healthy but should not neglect other areas of the mouth as this is where bacteria colonise.
This in itself is not a bad thing at first because the majority of bacteria are good and don’t cause us any problems but once the balance is thrown out of whack then you start to see issues emerging.
When this community becomes disrupted and out of balance–whether by poor diet, lifestyle, drugs, or disease—it results in a state of microbial imbalance (called dysbiosis) that wreaks havoc on the normal immune system response.
This leads to numerous problems in the mouth, including cavities that arise from excessive acid-producing bacteria, and gum disease that contributes to tooth loss as well as inflammatory diseases throughout the body
The Invaders
An example of such a bacterium is Porphyromonas gingivalis. This organism is found in oral cavities and is believed to play a big part in the development of periodontal disease.
But it’s only through the creation of bio films within the oral cavity that creates a massive problem.
It’s not one individual pathogen that creates problem, it’s a whole host of different species that start living together and causing a dysfunction within the mouth.
Difference between Normal And Oral Probiotics
The main difference between the two are the types of organisms present within them. Regular probiotics tend to be native to the gut and they tend to be administered via capsules so it can resist the powerful acids in the stomach.
Survivability is very important when it comes to regular probiotics, which is why it’s important to choose a high-quality product with many diverse strains and a high number of Colony Forming Units (or CFUs).
Oral probiotics on the other hand contain strains that are naturally found in the oral microbiome and are available in chewable tablet form or powders.
There are some specially formulated probiotics that can effectively work for both oral and digestive systems to give you a well-rounded boost.
More on these products later but let’s examine the most effective strains first!
Best Probiotic Strains For Teeth And Gums
The most commonly used probiotics used in general are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium which are quite commonly seen in the normal flora.
Some studies have even suggested that consuming products with these 2 strains has the potential to reduce the number of Mutans Streptococci in the saliva!
Some other powerful probiotic strains that are full of goodness are:
S. Salivarius K12
This bacteria is naturally found in the oral and mouth cavity which makes it a good strain to use. Its main benefit is the antimicrobial activity it possesses against Streptococcus pyogens.
It’s quite commonly found in yogurt and may also protect you from gum disease. It does this by releasing bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances (BLIS). These proteins stop the growth of harmful bugs.
S. Salivarius M18
Strain M18 is used as a probiotic and produces multiple bacteriocins targeting the important cariogenic species:
Streptococcus mutans, as well as the enzyme’s dextranase and urease, which could help reduce dental plaque accumulation and acidification, respectively.
It also reduces the development of pockets between the roots of teeth and gums.
The only thing is that M18 probiotic S. salivarius strain in the mouth showed its persistence was dose dependent. A consistent higher dose may be needed to gain full benefits.
So essentially, these two species of Salivarius may prevent oral flora imbalance and inflammatory response. They can also help your immune system protect your mouth.
Bleeding Gums And Inflammation
The mouth isn’t an easy place to make a home because as you know, so much activity occurs in this region of the body.
Food and drink passes by it almost continuously throughout the day and not to mention the saliva that swishes around constantly.
To combat this, bacteria tend to create little communities in small crevices around the teeth called bio film.
If you’re brushing and flossing routine is not up to scratch you will notice that this bio film will turn into plaque and this is where problems start to arise.
You should also note that if you start to notice bleeding gums, there is also an imbalance in your gut bacteria because they are both linked.
This is basically a sign that your body is telling you to pull yourself together and start protecting yourself either by diet or/and probiotics.
We mentioned earlier that Lactobacillus is one of the main probiotics found in the mouth but did you know that there are different strains that do different jobs?
Lactobacillus Reuteri
A common probiotic that lives in your gut. There is good evidence to show it reduces bleeding in more severe cases. One study showed L. reuteri decreased gum bleeding and reduced gingivitis.
Lactobacillus Brevis
Gum disease-causing bacteria can produce nitrous oxide. One study showed L.brevis produced enzyme’s that prevented nitrite/nitrate formation in patients with gum disease.
This species seems to act by decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines and boosting the immune system which suggests it may be effective in assisting gum healing.
Any Evidence Probiotics Help Teeth And Gums?
We found the following trial that was conducted over at life extension.
Researchers conducted a randomised trial that included 39 people with chronic periodontitis.The subjects were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or the L. plantarum L-137 supplement for 12 weeks.
Over the course of 12 weeks, researchers measured the probing pocket depth, which is the distance from the gum line to the bottom of the tiny “pocket” between gum and tooth root.
A normal, healthy gum pocket is 3 mm deep or less, and a depth of 4 mm or more defines periodontitis. Deeper pockets are a clinical measure of periodontal disease.
After 12 weeks, subjects supplementing with L. plantarum L-137 had a 64% greater improvement in pocket depth compared with placebo recipients.
This remarkable study showed that it’s possible to improve periodontal disease through modulation of the oral immune system.
Here is the full journal paper if you are interested in reading all of it:
Iwasaki K, Maeda K, Hidaka K, et al. Daily Intake of Heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum L-137 Decreases the Probing Depth in Patients Undergoing Supportive Periodontal Therapy. Oral Health Prev Dent.2016;14(3):207-14.
How To Choose The Best Oral Probiotic Supplement
When choosing an oral probiotic look for options with a high strain count, which is measured in colony forming units (CFUs). Keep in mind, though, that oral probiotics will usually have a lower strain and CFU count than regular probiotics.
Also, be sure to check for beneficial strains like S. salivarius K12 and S. salivarius M18.
There are so many flooding the market it’s hard to know which are legit and which ones need to
be avoided. Amazon stocks a wide range of Probiotics but the most popular one seems to be Pro-Dental by Hyperbiotics.
But for us the best probiotic supplement award goes to Corganics.
It stocks various different powder forms of probiotics and the one that is recommended by not only us but Dr Steven Lin is called Primal gut powder.
We like it because it contains 13 different strains of probiotics that have been clinically proven and gives you 15+ billion CFU per 1/6 of a serving. That’s a lot!
You might be thinking this is all about gut health but remember what we said earlier on in the article?
The oral micro flora is linked to the gut so we need to make sure the gut is working at full capacity and eventually that will translate into a better healthier mouth.
Go check them out and see the full benefits. We should say that the price is high at $99.95 but that’s to be expected for such as high-grade product.
Summary
Taking Probiotics For Teeth And Gums is actually a really good way to increase your overall health because the oral micro flora is connected with the gut.
If you fix the gut you will fix most issues that surround your mouth. There are various different strains that are beneficial and will help you achieve a healthier body.
These include: S.Salivarius K12 and M18 which are naturally found in the mouth and can kill off other harmful bacteria.
Then you also have the more common Lactobacillus and Bifidobacter species which are helpful in creating a healthy symbiotic relationship in the mouth.
There are various different formulations on the market but the two we recommend you start off with are:
- Pro Dental by Hyperbiotics
- Corganics Primal gut powder
Hopefully if you start taking them regularly you will start to see some great changes in your oral health and maybe even cure your gum disease 🙂
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