Dental Probiotics: How Can They Help Your Oral Health?

In recent years, you’ve probably heard or read about the use of probiotics for improving gut and digestive health, but did you know there are dental probiotics formulated for your oral microbiome as well? Dental probiotics are a potential addition to your oral hygiene routine that may help support a healthy mouth and teeth and prevent or manage certain dental issues.

Read on about how dental probiotics work, the different types and more below.

What Are Dental Probiotics?

Dental probiotics (or oral probiotics) are living strains of beneficial microorganisms safe for human consumption. Like the gut, your mouth is home to a complex community of bacteria known as a microbiome. Dental probiotics encourage and support the growth of good (commensal) bacteria and inhibit the growth of bad (pathogenic) bacteria to ensure a thriving oral microbiome.¹

How Do Dental Probiotics Work?

Some conditions like low saliva flow or low oral pH, or high carbohydrate diets allow for an imbalance of bad bacteria to thrive, which can lead to gum disease, infections, cavities or tooth loss.² Dental probiotics can help increase the colonies of good bacteria in the mouth and restore a healthy balance of oral flora.³

The beneficial bacteria in dental probiotics can:²

• Integrate with the natural oral biofilm to reduce the amount of bad bacteria

• Create a protective layer on tooth surfaces

• Support the body’s immune response to bad bacteria

• Help maintain a healthy oral pH level

Benefits of Dental Probiotics

Using dental probiotics to increase the amount of good bacteria in the mouth can help with some common oral problems, including:²

• Gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis (early-stage gum disease) and periodontitis (late-stage gum disease) are oral conditions marked by inflammation, bleeding and often receding gums, which can ultimately result in tooth loss and bone decay. Probiotics, when combined with good oral hygiene habits, may help reduce the bacteria around the teeth and gum line that cause gingivitis and periodontitis and lead to infection.

• Cavities. A buildup of dental plaque on and around teeth can lead to cavities (dental caries). The nitrite-producing bacteria commonly found in dental probiotics can help combat cavity-causing bacteria, reducing the chance of developing cavities.

• Bad breath (Halitosis). Some pathogenic bacteria that reside in the small grooves of the teeth or areas of the tongue produce foul-smelling volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) as they break down the organic compounds in the mouth. This process produces bad breath, otherwise known as halitosis. Dental probiotics can reduce the amount of bad bacteria on the tongue and teeth, lowering VSCs and minimizing odors.

• Oral thrush. Oral thrush (oral candidiasis) is a yeast infection on the lining of the mouth and tongue caused by an overgrowth of the Candida albicans fungus. It may cause white spots in the mouth along with burning, redness and dry mouth. Oral thrush may be a side effect for people taking antibiotics or who are immunocompromised and have fewer beneficial bacteria to protect their health. Dental probiotics can help balance good and bad bacteria and reduce the possibility of developing oral thrush.³

• Tonsillitis. Tonsillitis is a bacterial infection of the oval-shaped tissue pads located at the back of the throat. People with enlarged or pitted tonsils may be more prone to bacteria imbalance, which can cause recurring tonsillitis, sore throat or strep throat. Some strains of dental probiotics can help reduce colonies of bad bacteria around the tonsils and pharynx.³

Types of Dental Probiotics

The active cultures used for dental probiotics may vary from those used in probiotics for gut health, so it’s important to use a product formulated specifically as an oral probiotic to get the most benefits.²

Note that dental probiotics are typically designed to be used in the mouth, rather than swallowed like a probiotic you might take for gut health. This ensures the active probiotic cultures have direct contact with the bacteria in your mouth to balance the microbiome.²

Dental probiotics are commonly available as:²

• Lozenges

• Chewable tablets

• Toothpaste

• Probiotic drinks

• Mouthwash

• Chewing gum

You can also consider adding certain foods that have natural probiotic properties to your diet, including probiotic milk, cultured yogurt and cottage cheese, sauerkraut, fermented or pickled vegetables, soft cheeses, dark chocolate, mangos, almond butter, miso, kombucha and kefir.¹

Consult with your dentist for recommendations about which type of dental probiotic is right for you. Over-the-counter dental probiotics are readily available at drug stores or online, or through your dentist.

Possible Side Effects of Dental Probiotics

Dental probiotics are generally safe for most people, and side effects are typically minimal. Some users have reported mild side effects at the beginning of treatment, including an upset stomach, diarrhea, bloating or gas. Allergic reactions are also a possibility.¹

Discuss any concerns you may have with your dentist before adding a dental probiotic to your health care regimen.¹

How Often Should You Take Dental Probiotics?

Most probiotics are taken daily.¹ Follow the usage instructions as recommended by your dentist about dosage and frequency.¹ Consistency is key to optimizing the benefits of probiotics in creating a healthy and balanced oral microbiome.²

Dental Financing With the CareCredit Credit Card

Regular dental checkups are important to help prevent, identify and treat dental problems before they become more advanced. The CareCredit credit card can help you pay for dental exams, cosmetic dental procedures and other costs that insurance doesn’t cover — to help you keep your pearly whites bright and healthy.* Use our Acceptance Locator to find a dentist near you that accepts CareCredit. Make the most of your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App. You can find a provider on the go, manage your CareCredit account and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to dental care, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for pet care, cosmetic, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Anne-Marie Kennedy is a freelance writer with more than 20 years of experience covering health and wellness, personal finance and real estate/investing.