I have previously discussed the many health benefits of probiotics, most of which have been related to the GI tract. I would like to review some of the reports on probiotics with regard to oral health.

Clinical studies have been carried out to determine whether probiotics can prevent or lessen common oral and dental diseases. The three disorders that I will review are dental caries, periodontal disease, and halitosis.

Dental Caries
Dental caries, or cavities, are formed by bacteria. Streptococcus mutans is the most destructive bacterial strain in the mouth as it attaches easily to teeth and produces a lot of acid. It is able to ferment the sugars (carbohydrates) in our diet, especially those sweet foods that get caught on and between our teeth.

Studies using orally-administered probiotics have found that certain strains can inhibit the growth of S. mutans (1,2). The conclusion was that probiotics seem to be a natural way to maintain dental health, and that daily intake of probioitcs in early childhood may result in less dental caries (3).

Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is an inflammation of the tissues that support the teeth. These tissues consist of our gums (gingiva), outer layer of the roots of our teeth (cementum), the bony sockets that anchor our teeth (alveolar bone), and the connective tissue supporting the roots and bony sockets.

Studies have found that the bacteria causing periodontal disease could be regulated by applying a probiotic which inhibited their growth. A decrease in gum inflammation and bleeding was noted in those subjects given probiotics (4). These studies, like those for dental caries, are promising but have not yet proved that they can prevent periodontal disease.

Halitosis
Halitosis, or bad breath, is the condition when breath has an unpleasant odor. Halitosis is an embarrassing social problem more than it is a dental health problem. Approximately 80-90% of the causes of bad breath originate in the mouth. Again, this is a bacterial disorder. Two studies have found that by administering probiotic bacteria, it was possible to suppress the odor-producing bacteria, resulting in a decrease in the foul smelling gases arising in the mouth (5,6).

Probiotics seem to be a potential therapy for maintaining oral health. Just like in the GI tract, maintaining a healthy balance of the bacteria flora in the mouth may help to prevent increased visits to the dentist. Probiotics are certainly not a substitute for the basic recommendations by the American Dental Association.

If you are prone to cavities, periodontal disease, or suffer with halitosis, it may be worthwhile to take a good probiotic such as EndoMune.

for more information about probiotics and oral health, please visit:
http://hubpages.com/hub/probiotics-and-oral-health