Are There Probiotics for Dental Issues And Bad Breath?

Published March 11, 2021

It’s not typically the best trait, but we all have to admit that at some point, we’ve had bad breath. No matter how well you brush your teeth, how expensive your toothpaste/mouthwash is, or how thorough you floss, you can never really maintain good-smelling breath forever. For Halitosis, also known as chronic bad breath, the breath’s fouls smell is not something mouthwash or high-end toothpaste can fix. Dental probiotics, however, offer a possible treatment for such conditions.

Dental Probiotics

Probiotics are live bacteria that maintain your body’s well-being by eliminating the bad bacteria in your body. They are what we call ‘good’ bacteria as it benefits your health in several ways. These ‘goog’ bacteria are usually found in fermented foods such as yogurt and sauerkraut. Also, probiotics influence good bacteria to grow and spread in your body. Our mouths contain both good and bad bacteria, which is a possible factor that leads to bad breath. 

The foul smell of breath due to Halitosis comes from bacteria located on the tongue and underneath the gums as they produce volatile sulfur compounds (VSC). The VSC is what gives off a smell similar to rotten eggs or cabbage. Mouth-freshening methods like mints, mouthwash, and flossing can provide fresh breath for a short period of time before bacteria start to form again. 

Studies from the University of Connecticut have proven that the most effective way to eliminate bad breath is to let good bacteria invade the mouth to fight off any bad bacteria. The use of Streptococcus salivarius strain K12 in the study was revealed to reduce the growth of bacteria in the mouth that causes halitosis. After a week of using K12 probiotic lozenges, the test subjects’ VSC percentage was relatively lower by 85%. In addition, the K12 probiotic capsules reduced symptoms of gingivitis, pharyngitis, oral candidiasis, and dental decay.