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2021-08-13
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Dr Jatin
The relationship between Probiotics and Oral Health
Summary:
Probiotics are essentially “living healthy bacteria” that are introduced in the body to improve the functioning of the digestive system. Over the years, several studies have shown that probiotics & probiotics supplements significantly benefit oral health. In addition to oral health benefits, probiotics improve the body’s immune response, prevent respiratory infections and minimize the risk of allergy development in infants. It is recommended to include foods containing probiotics or reliable probiotics supplements into your diet.
Most common and best probiotics bacterial strains used
The frequently used probiotic bacterial strain belongs to the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. These two bacterial genera are considered to be beneficial to the oral health and are a part of the “normal biota” of the oral cavity. It has been suggested that fermented foods are rich in lactobacilli and therefore should be included in your daily diet. The Indian diet plan usually includes yoghurt(with probiotics) which is a rich source of “healthy gut bacteria” and aids in digestion. This is due to the presence of lactobacilli in abundance in curd and curd products.
Naturally occurring rich probiotics food
Some of the foods which have abundant probiotics including some of the best dental probiotics that can be included in our diet are:
- Curd/ Yoghurt with probiotics
- Enhanced milk
- Kimchi
- Soft Cheese
- Miso Olives
- Kombucha (fermented tea)
- Kefir
- Natto(fermented soyabean)
- Sauerkraut
- Water or brine cured
Benefits of probiotics on oral health?
You may often wonder if do dental probiotics work? Or what are probiotics good for? You may not even know that dental probiotics are playing such a significant role in improving your oral health and giving you signs probiotics are working.
a.) Reduction in dental decay and plaque:
Probiotics play a significant role in bringing down disease causing bacteria. These pathogens can result in plaque accumulation and dental decay.
In a 2016 study, it was observed that a bacterial strain called A12 helped in preventing dental decay by reducing the activity of Streptococcus mutans, which is the bacteria responsible in causing tooth decay.
b.) Improved periodontal Health:
One of the first studies conducted to evaluate the role of dental probiotics on oral health showed a positive impact on the periodontal health of the patients. It was observed that providing probiotic powder or probiotic supplements containing the bacterial strain Lactobacillus salivarius showed significant improvement in the pocket depth, bleeding and also reduced the number of periodontal pathogens in the plaque. This reduced the inflammation in the gums and periodontal tissues thereby promoting good overall periodontal health.
c) Reduction in halitosis or Bad breath:
This is usually observed due to an increase in the number of bacteria that causes bad breath in the mouth as well as the gut. What are the best dental probiotics for bad breath? In a clinical trial that was conducted, it was observed that 85% people showed a reduction in the number of bad breath causing bacteria when they used a placebo mouthwash that contained the probiotic bacterium Streptococcus salivarius.
Are probiotics good for you & what are the probiotics side effects?
Probiotics are generally considered safe and can be taken by individuals as the probiotics side effects are minimal. However, it is always recommended to consult your physician before taking any probiotic supplements and understand any dental probiotics side effects. However, immunocompromised patients particularly HIV, ill infants, patients in intensive care unit and those who underwent recent surgery should avoid consuming probiotics, unless approved by their physician.
The initial consumption of probiotics may cause bloating and intestinal gas as a new bacterium is being introduced. However, these symptoms are only temporary, and the individual may consider lowering the dose of the probiotic supplements.
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Dr Jatin
