Probiotics and oral health.

Probiotics have long been associated with good gut health, but did you know that they can help with oral health too?

Probiotics and oral health

Right now, we’re experiencing a new era in research when it comes to oral medications. Happily, the preliminary data is quite encouraging with regards to probiotics and oral health. Although there’s more research to be done, there is some indication that people with certain types of oral health issues, such as caries (tooth decay), may benefit from using probiotics.

In particular, researchers have found that probiotics incorporated into dairy products neutralise acidic conditions in the mouth and interfere the bacteria that causes caries.

It’s not entirely clear as to why probiotics work in the way that they do, or the extent to which we should be taking them for good oral health. I’m not saying you should be using Yakult as a mouthwash but probiotics do seem to have a positive effect on your health.

How do probiotics work?

Probiotics are living microorganisms, principally bacteria, that are safe for human consumption. Not all bacteria are bad. When ingested in sufficient quantities, the good bacteria have beneficial effects on the human health beyond basic nutrition. While a lot of research has been done, and benefits seen, especially with regards to gut health, we are now seeing findings that show probiotic therapy as beneficial for oral health also.

So far, we’re aware that those with periodontal disease will experience an improvement in periodontal health by using chewing gum or lozenges containing probiotics. Likewise, probiotics have been shown to have a positive impact on oral candida, in terms of a decrease in oral-yeast counts.

It appears that probiotics may help with bad breath issues as well, because probiotics in gargling solutions or chewing gum inhibit production of the sulphur-containing compounds that cause bad breath.

When should you use probiotics?

At the moment, I suggest that patients who are taking antibiotics for oral diseases use probiotics for a week prior to taking the antibiotics, during the course of antibiotics, or few a couple of weeks afterwards. Even though there is more research to be done in the field, that shouldn’t be taken as a reason to restrict the use of probiotics in these circumstances.

Interestingly, a lot of the research that’s arisen in relation to probiotics and oral health has been in response to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. While they’re similar sounding words, probiotics and antibiotics have very different working mechanisms. On the one hand, antibiotics kill bacteria, whereas probiotics add bacteria that are beneficial. Sometimes, when you have antibiotics therapy, it kills off not just the bad bacteria but the good bacteria as well, which is why probiotics become necessary to replenish your body with good bacteria.

In conclusion

Given that we don’t have any definitive answers about those issues right now, I wouldn’t recommend a daily probiotic for oral health. That said, probiotics definitely have an important role in oral health — it’s just still unfolding.  

Dr Shawn Rama