Dental Probiotics: What Are They?
A dental probiotic (also called an oral probiotic) is exactly what it sounds like, a probiotic for your teeth and mouth. But if you're still scratching your head about what that really means, read on to learn more.
The US Department of Health defines a probiotic as “live microorganisms that are intended to have health benefits when consumed or applied to the body.”(1) These probiotic microorganisms, or good bacteria, help us fight disease, digest food, and keep our microbiomes in balance which results in good health. When we are imbalanced, or have an overgrowth of bad bacteria, it can result in inflammation, chronic diseases, tooth decay and more.
The bad bacteria that live in your mouth that are primarily responsible for cavities and tooth decay are called Streptococcus mutans. The probiotic strains that we included in our SUPER TEETH Dental Probiotic fight against Streptococcus mutans and the harmful acidic environment they produce in the mouth. They also help break up the plaque on your teeth.
Dental probiotics are taken differently than gut probiotics. Gut probiotics do their work in your gastrointestinal tract so they must be swallowed and make their way through your stomach to get to the place where they do their job. A dental probiotic does its work right in your mouth, so it needs to be savored in the mouth like a mint. This allows the good bacteria to populate your oral cavity. Once they’ve taken home there, they go to work fighting Streptococcus mutans and creating balance and harmony.
If you aren’t taking a dental probiotic you’re missing the opportunity to give yourself and your family an extra layer of protection your teeth need in the fight for a healthy mouth. SUPER TEETH Dental Probiotic offers a unique blend of good bacteria strains that populate your mouth and go to work for you even when oral health isn't on your mind.