Photo Credit: STEVE GSCHMEISSNER – https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/726921/view (Wikipedia)
Did you know that oral probiotics, similar to probiotics taken for gut health, use beneficial bacteria or microorganisms in the form of supplements, lozenges, or other formulations to promote healthy oral flora? This helps keep the microorganisms that are living in the oral cavity in a natural, healthy balance.
Here are some reasons why taking oral probiotics can be so beneficial:
- By taking an oral probiotic not only enhances the health of your mouth, it can also help support the balance of bacteria in your gut. Since your mouth is the entrance to your digestive system, it is the first step in the proper function of the GI tract.
- Oral probiotics can also enhance immune response by stimulating production of antibodies, enhancing the activity of immune cells, and helping to maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria which can positively influence overall immune function.
- Maybe the most important contribution that oral probiotics make is by inhibiting the growth of harmful bacterial in the mouth. This includes bacteria that causes dental decay and gum disease which often contribute to bad breath and oral infections.
Most everyone would benefit from taking an oral probiotic, especially those that are affected with dental disease. Realize too, that oral bacteria and microorganisms can be passed within a family, especially from parents to a baby. So it is important that everyone have healthy microorganisms in their mouths since they can be transferred to others. Helping a baby or young child develop a healthy oral microbiome will help set them up for hopefully a lifetime of dental health instead of a lifetime of dental disease.
In certain circumstances Oral DNA tests can be completed to understand what is specifically causing an infection and a specific oral probiotic can be recommended. If you struggle with dental disease, whether it is dental decay or gum disease, ask your dentist about an Oral DNA test.
One of my favorite Oral Probiotics as a dentist is the BioGaia life of probiotic supplements for gums and teeth. Click here for the sponsored link for BioGaia probiotics.
