Probiotics

Published July 26, 2022

Prebiotics and probiotics have garnered a lot of attention recently because of the health benefits they provide. However, many people still disregard postbiotics, which are another related group of beneficial compounds that can improve your overall health.

The definitions of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics can be confusing. For that reason, here is a simple overview of each of the three:

• Probiotics are healthy bacteria that live inside your gut. Often, they enhance nutrient absorption. Needless to say, they’ve got lots of other benefits.
• Prebiotics can be described as a group of nutrients that feed the probiotics in your gut. In most cases, they’re comprised of different types of fibers.
• Postbiotics are essentially the bioactive compounds that are produced by probiotics when they consume prebiotics.

Now with all that being said, let’s dive a little deeper into what postbiotics are. We’ll talk about their relationship with their cousins and the various health benefits they provide to your body.

What Is A Postbiotic?

Although it may seem gross, postbiotics as the byproducts that are produced once probiotics consume prebiotics within your colon. Now although they’re technically waste products, it wouldn’t be correct to consider them as they’re responsible for health-boosting actions.

Scientists like to classify postbiotics as such:

• Enzymes
• Short-chain fatty acids
• Cell wall fragments
• Exopolysaccharides
• Cell-free supernatants
• Lipopolysaccharides
• Some metabolites like vitamins and amino acids

While postbiotic supplements do exist, they’re harder to come by than their pre and probiotic counterparts. The reason why is because they are relatively new and not as widely available.

Of course, you’ve also got the option to avoid supplements completely and obtain postbiotics via foods that are rich with prebiotics. Furthermore, you’ve also got the option to consume probiotics which eventually get processed into postbiotics within your colon.

Published July 12, 2022

The gut microbe is something that’s not yet fully understood by scientists. For that reason, a lot of research is still being conducted regarding the matter. Nevertheless, the general consensus is that it’s good to take probiotics daily. Doing so will provide many medical benefits that will let you continue living a healthy lifestyle.

You see, probiotics are types of good bacteria that balance out your digestive system when they are taken in the right amounts. Every type of probiotic strain has a different effect on your body, which is why there are currently no general standardized dosages for most kinds of probiotics.

With all that being said, there’s evidence showing that daily probiotic intake is good for you. In fact, studies have even revealed that it’s good to take probiotics several times a day. Now by reading this guide, you will learn everything there is that’s currently known about the subject.

Is Taking Probiotics Everyday Safe?

Published July 12, 2022

Your digestive system is home to over a thousand species of bacteria. While this may seem quite shocking, it’s actually normal. Such species make up what’s called a gut microbiome.

The microbiome in your gut can affect your general health. Probiotics are known for their ability to kill the bad bacteria in your digestive system and promote the growth of good bacteria.

So can you take probiotics with vitamins? After consulting with several medical professionals, I can confidently say yes. With that being stated, I’d like to dive deeper into the subject.

Can Probiotics & Vitamins Be Combined?

Published July 11th, 2022

In this time of Covid, preventing bad bacteria in your mouth from spreading is more essential than ever. Doing this is quite easy. All you need to do is follow a few steps.

In this article, we shall discuss these steps so that you can keep the people around you safe.

Eliminating Bad Bacteria In Your Mouth

Did you know that your mouth is among the dirtiest places in your body? This is because 600 species of bacteria thrive within its warm and humid environment at any given time.

Fortunately, science has advanced to the point wherein we can finally keep our mouths as clean as possible.

You need to follow 6 things to keep bad bacteria away from your mouth. Let’s talk about these things in greater detail below:

• Brush Your Teeth

First and foremost, brush your teeth 2 to 3 times a day to eliminate bad bacteria from your mouth. Doing so will help eliminate plaque, which is a layer of bacteria on your teeth that hardens over time. It also gets rid of cavity-causing food particles.

Published June 10, 2022

If you’re having a hard time defecating, you’ve probably turned to laxatives. But even though they’re effective for a time, they can only do so much. Besides, they can harm your digestive system in the long run.

Then maybe it’s time you try probiotics.

Wait, probiotics? Aren’t they for diarrhea? Do probiotics make you poop too?

Yes, probiotics do make you poop. In fact, it’s scientifically proven to help relieve constipation, especially if it’s caused by IBS, pregnancy, or medications. But unlike laxatives, it does not stimulate bowel movement. Instead, it regulates your digestion to help the stool pass through your body more easily.

To help you understand more about how probiotics can help with constipation, you first need to understand how they work.

Why Do Probiotics Make You Poop?

Also known as the “good bacteria”, probiotics are live microorganisms that help your body fight off bad bacteria. They are naturally present in our bodies but we can get them from foods and supplements too.

Probiotics work by restoring the balance in our microbiome, or the bacterial population in our body. This also restores our normal digestive function which, in turn, helps us have a more regular bowel movement.

The Role of Bacteria in the Digestion Process

If you didn’t know, our body is host to trillions of bacteria, both good and bad. Collectively, they are what we call our microbiome.

These clusters of bacteria are found in different parts of our body like the mouth, nose, and skin. But the largest of these bacterial populations resides in our guts.

Our gut bacteria play a vital role in our digestive function. Aside from helping digest the foods we eat, it also enables us to absorb nutrients from the foods we eat.

Certain types of gut bacteria can also digest fiber and non-digestible carbohydrates. This produces short-chain fatty acids which play a vital role in metabolism and colon health.

When the healthy balance of bacteria in your gut microbiome is disturbed, it can cause dysbiosis. The bad bacteria can take over and choke out the good ones. This, in turn, disrupts our body’s normal digestive function.

With no beneficial bacteria to digest our food or help absorb their nutrients, our digestive system cannot function properly. This leads to health issues like diarrhea, constipation, and chronic digestive disorders.

How Probiotics Can Help You Poop

As mentioned, probiotics restore the healthy balance of bacteria in your microbiota. They replenish the beneficial bacteria lost during dysbiosis.

The more good bacteria there is in your gut, the better they’ll be able to fight off their harmful counterparts. You’ll also have more bacteria to digest your food, especially non-digestible carbohydrates.

As a result, your body will also have enough supply of short-chain fatty acids. When absorbed by the body, short-chain fatty acids speed up and stimulate colon motility. This, in turn, improves our defecation frequency and stool consistency.

In short, the more good bacteria we have in our guts, the lesser is our risk for constipation.

Published March 25, 2022

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) might not be as well-known as IBS or GERD. But it can be as worrying as any other gastrointestinal disorder. If left untreated, it can lead to malnutrition and other serious complications.

Fortunately, like most intestinal disorders, SIBO is treatable. And one SIBO treatment that’s slowly gaining attention is probiotics.

But can probiotics really help you get rid of SIBO?

According to scientific studies, they can. One study published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology found that probiotic treatment can neutralize SIBO and relieve symptoms like bloating and abdominal pain.

However, to fully understand how probiotics work against SIBO, we need to first understand what SIBO really is.

Understanding SIBO

As its name suggests, Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is a medical condition that affects the small intestine. It happens when there is an explosive growth of bacteria in your small intestine.

Under normal circumstances, having bacteria in our intestines is actually beneficial. These bacteria helps our body digest food and absorb their nutrients.

However, when there is excessive bacterial growth in your intestine, it can increase the bacterial fermentation of the foods you eat. This, in turn, releases more gas into your GI tract leading to bloating, flatulence, and abdominal pain.

As time passes, all these excess bacteria will also start eating up your body’s nutrients. As a result, long-time SIBO sufferers may experience malnutrition, dehydration, and nutrient deficiency symptoms.

Causes

It’s still unclear what really causes SIBO. Though it’s generally accepted that it’s a result of impaired intestinal motility and lesser gastric acid secretion. These two can slow down your food’s journey through your digestive tract. This, in turn, creates a fertile breeding ground for bacteria leading to their excessive growth.

Aging and certain types of medications can cause your stomach to produce less acid. While surgeries, structural problems of the intestine, and gastrointestinal disorders like IBS and Chron’s disease can reduce intestinal motility. This is why SIBO is often associated with various gastrointestinal diseases.

Symptoms

One of the reasons why SIBO is often underdiagnosed is because it shares symptoms with many other gastrointestinal diseases. This includes:

• nausea
• constipation
• bloating
• flatulence
• cramps
• diarrhea
• indigestion
• a constant feeling of fullness
• lack of appetite
• stomach pains, especially after eating
• weakness and fatigue

Published March 25, 2022

Whether you like it or not, all of us have bacteria in our mouths. It’s inevitable. As long as we eat, there will always be bacteria in our oral cavities.

Unfortunately, these same bacteria are the main culprits for all those oral health issues you’ve been complaining about. From that bad breath that just won’t go away to more serious conditions like gingivitis and periodontitis, you can blame all that on the bacteria residing in your mouth.

With these, I bet you can’t wait to get rid of them. No worries, we got you. Here’s how to kill mouth bacteria in six simple ways:

1. Brush Your Teeth Regularly

There’s a reason why one of the first things we’ve learned as a kid is how to brush our teeth. It’s one of the best and most basic ways to get rid of harmful mouth bacteria.

As you probably know, the bacteria in your mouth form a thin film that sticks to your teeth. We call this the plaque. And when you eat, this film of bacteria will react with your food and produce acids. In turn, these acids destroy your tooth enamel making it more vulnerable to rot and decay. To prevent this from happening, you need to brush your teeth regularly.

The American Dental Association recommends that we should brush our teeth twice a day for at least two minutes. Remember to use a soft-bristled toothbrush as a hard one may further damage your dental enamel. Make sure to brush your tongue too as your tongue’s surface can also serve as a breeding ground for bacteria.

2. Floss Between Your Teeth

Flossing removes the bacteria, dirt, and food particles that are stuck in between your teeth. As you probably know, the gaps between your teeth aren’t usually reached by your toothbrush bristles. So if you don’t floss, the bacteria will build up which can eventually cause damage to your teeth.

Just like brushing your teeth, flossing has to be done regularly too, at least once a day. You can use the standard floss, dental tape, or a water flosser if you have braces.

3. Use Mouthwash

No matter how thoroughly you brush and floss your teeth, there are still many nooks and crannies in your oral cavity where bacteria can hide in. This is why most dentists recommend that mouthwash should be part of your daily oral regimen.

There are many different types of mouthwash, each formulated for various oral health needs. Most of them contain antimicrobial agents that help kill mouth bacteria. Others may also contain fluoride and anti-gingivitis ingredients. The key is identifying your oral health needs and then choosing a mouthwash that can address those needs.

Published March 11, 2022

Tonsil stones rarely cause serious health issues. But they can be really painful, especially when you’re eating. Not to mention that they can cause your breath to smell like rotten eggs.

Some people may never experience tonsil stones in their lifetime. But data suggests that it affects up to 10% of the population making it one of the most common oral health issues around the world.

Fortunately, there are a lot of ways to get rid of tonsil stones. Depending on the severity, they can range from simple home remedies to invasive surgeries.

Recently, however, many people are turning to oral probiotics. Dubbed as the “good bacteria”, probiotics are famously known for their digestive health benefits. But unknown to many, they can help you get rid of oral health issues like tonsil stones too.

To help you pick the best oral probiotics for tonsil stones, we created this quick guide for you.

What You Need to Know About Tonsil Stones

Tonsil stones or “tonsiloliths” are calcified bacteria and debris lodged in the crevices of your tonsils. Their size can range from that of a grain of rice to as large as a grape. In general, the larger the tonsil stones are, the more painful it is. Removing large tonsil stones also typically requires surgery.

Now, you might be wondering, how do bacteria get calcified in your tonsils?

You may not see it but your tonsils are made up of natural cavities, crevices, and tunnels called tonsil crypts. To prevent bacteria and other harmful debris from entering your airways, your tonsil traps them in those crypts. This debris include food particles, mucus, dead cells, and saliva.

As time passes, that trapped debris hardens into stone-like particles. Thus, the more debris is trapped in those cavities, the bigger the tonsil stone will be.

Aside from the pain when swallowing, tonsil stones may also lead to symptoms such as:

• chronic cough
• ear pain
• sore throat
• white or yellow discharge from the tonsils

Because tonsil stones have bacteria in them, they can also cause chronic bad breath too.

Top-Rated Oral Probiotics for Tonsil Stones

If you’re looking for the best oral probiotics for tonsil stones, here are the top-rated ones:

1.  Bionaze

Bionaze is an oral probiotic supplement targeted for ear, nose, throat, and mouth issues. It’s formulated with BLIS K12 and Bl-04, two probiotic strains that studies have proven to be effective against various oral health issues like halitosis and tonsil stones.

Unlike most types of probiotics, Bionaze comes in Lozenge form. According to studies, this allows the bacteria to more effectively colonize the mouth making it more effective.

Get yours here.

2.  Oral Complete Dental Probiotics

With a specialized blend of 6 probiotic strains, this dental probiotic is made for various oral health issues. This includes halitosis, gingivitis, and tonsil stones. It also contain BioMOS FG, a type of sugar that helps the body more effectively absorb probiotics.

Get yours here.

3. Replenish the Good Dental Probiotics

Just like the previous item on this list, Replenish the Good’s Dental Probiotics is formulated for various oral health issues. It contains two types of Streptococcus Salivarius strains (BLIS K12 and BLIS M18) which are native to your oral microbiome. You also won’t have to worry about storing this supplement as it can last up to 18 months without refrigeration.

Get yours here.

4. Naturewise Oral Health Probiotics for Children and Adults

Conveniently packed in chewable breath mints, this probiotic supplement is suitable for both children and adults. It contains 12 different kinds of probiotic strains, most of which are known for targeting oral health issues. Aside from tonsil stones, it can also address other oral health issues like halitosis, gingivitis, and various gum diseases.

Get yours here.

5. NOW Foods OralBiotic Supplements

Unlike most supplements on this list, NOW Foods’ Oralbiotic Supplement only has one probiotic strain: BLIS K12. As mentioned, this probiotic supplement is scientifically proven to be effective against various oral health issues including halitosis and tonsil stones.

Get yours here.

Published March 4, 2020

Wearing braces is supposed to be good for our teeth. Aside from the aesthetic benefits, it can also prevent bone erosion and aids in digestion. But without proper oral care, wearing braces can lead to dental discoloration – otherwise known as braces stains.

Teeth staining is a common oral health issue, especially for people wearing braces. It can be caused by a variety of factors. Though most of the time, it’s because of improper cleaning or a lack of oral care.

Regardless of what caused it, teeth discoloration can chip away at your confidence. And if not addressed, it can lead to various oral health issues.

This is why people have been trying all sorts of methods to whiten their teeth. From the traditional salt and baking soda brush to more unconventional methods like kaolin clay and activated charcoal, people will try anything to get whiter teeth.

Recently, however, more people are turning to probiotics to get rid of braces stains. But does it really work? More importantly, is it safe? To answer these along with other questions you have about probiotics for dental stains, we first need to understand why braces stains happen.

What Causes Braces Stains?

As I’ve said, there are a lot of factors that can cause teeth stains. Discoloration caused by orthodontic braces, however, is usually caused by plaque buildup.

Plaque, if you don’t know, is a thin film of bacteria that grows around your teeth’ surface. This causes your teeth to turn yellow. When left alone, this film of bacteria will harden, permanently coating your teeth in an unsightly yellow color.

In addition, plaque bacteria produce acids that can destroy your tooth enamel. And when your dental enamel is destroyed, it can never grow back. This is why a plaque buildup can lead to rotten teeth, gingivitis, and periodontal diseases.

Braces stains can also be caused by factors like:

• Sugary foods and drinks. Starches and sugar in food cause plaque to form. That’s why eating foods rich in sugar can accelerate plaque buildup and teeth staining.
• Foods with strong colors. Foods with natural colors often leave some of their pigmentations in your teeth leading to staining. This includes coffee, mustard, blueberries, beets, tomatoes, and blackberries among others.
• Acidic foods. Acid-rich foods like citrus, vinegar, and soda can erode your teeth’s natural enamel. This makes them more susceptible to stains and cavities.
• Tobacco. Cigarettes and other tobacco products contain nicotine and tar which seeps into your tooth enamel. When exposed to oxygen, the nicotine turns yellow causing your teeth to have the same color too. While the tar’s natural brown color will cause your teeth to stain too.
• Teeth whitening products. This might come as a surprise to many but some teeth whitening products may actually cause staining. Some of them have baking soda that, when used for a long time, can damage your enamel. Besides, when you’re wearing dental braces, some parts of your teeth aren’t reached by the whitening products.

Published February 24, 2022

Waking up in the morning with bad breath is quite normal. But when that foul odor doesn’t go away even after you’ve brushed, flossed, and gargled half a bottle of mouthwash, then it’s a different story.

According to studies, halitosis or bad breath is one of the world’s most common oral health issues. About 1 in 4 people suffer from it on a regular basis. And it’s estimated that about 50% of the world’s adult population suffers from a chronic case of bad breath.

The worst thing about having a bad breath is that it eats away at your confidence. When you notice people covering their nose or holding their breath while talking to you, it just makes you wish the ground would open up and swallow you alive.

Recently, however, many people have been turning to probiotics to get rid of bad breath. But do dental probiotics really work? Can they help you get rid of bad breath permanently?

To answer your questions, we created this guide on how to find the best probiotics for bad breath.

Bacteria and Bad Breath

There are a lot of factors that can cause bad breath. For example, some people have bad breath because of digestive health issues, while others are simply due to poor oral hygiene.

But in most cases, your bad breath has something to do with bacteria. Though not always in the way you would expect.

It’s not really a secret that our mouth has bacteria. It’s the reason why we’re constantly reminded to brush our teeth and floss. Otherwise, we’d get plaque, rotten teeth, and, yes, bad breath.

But there’s one more underlying cause of bad breath that has to do with bacteria. More specifically, the imbalance of the bacterial population in our microbiome.

Wait, microbiome? Bacterial population? What is that?

Not many people know this, but our body is home to trillions of both good and bad bacteria. This bacterial population is what we call our microbiome.

Studies show that a healthy person also has a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria in their microbiome. It also suggests that dysbiosis or an imbalance in your microbiome can cause various health concerns.

Though most of these bacterial populations are found in our guts, some can be found in other parts of the body too. And yes, that includes your mouth.

It’s estimated that there are over 700 different strains of bacteria in your oral microbiome. Each plays a different role in helping your mouth function properly. Some help breaks down food and promotes better digestion, while others protect your teeth and gums.

But among all those strains are also harmful ones. They’re the type of bacteria that makes you sick. And when there’s an imbalance in your oral microbiome, these harmful bacteria tend to proliferate.

Studies also show that certain bacteria strains give off gas and volatile sulfur compounds that smell like rotten eggs. So the more of these bacteria crowding your oral cavities, the more gas they’ll give off and the stinkier your breath will be.