Woman taking an oral probiotic

What are Oral Probiotics and do they get rid of bad breath?

Did you know that your mouth is full of bacteria? If you are prone to bad breath, or even poor dental health, your mouth probably contains higher levels of some of the less desirable bacteria, such as Streptococcus mutans or Porphyromonas gingivalis. Volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), the waste produced by the millions of bacteria that inhabit your mouth, are often the cause of bad breath. Indeed, if you routinely brush your teeth and practice proper dental care yet still suffer from halitosis, the cause may be an overgrowth of bacteria that produce smelly compounds in your mouth. While probiotics are traditionally known for enhancing gut flora and promoting a healthy digestive tract, new research supports the novel idea that they may also promote a healthier oral cavity and reduce the amount of these stinky bacteria. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria, and they may just be the key to getting rid of bad breath.

The Benefits of Oral Probiotics

Oral probiotics (sometimes called oralbiotics) promote a healthy, fresh-smelling mouth in numerous ways. Here are just some of the benefits:

  1. Inhibit plaque formation
  2. Reduce bleeding and maintain the gum line
  3. Lower and prevent inflammation
  4. Inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria that cause bad breath and tooth decay
  5. Create more favorable conditions for a healthier environment in your mouth
  6. Support the immune system (resulting in fewer throat and sinus infections)
  7. Freshen breath
  8. Whiten teeth

The Research

A study conducted by Burton et al. found that people who did not have bad breath often had the bacterium Streptococcus salivarius in their mouths. This favorable bacterium inhibits the bacteria that cause bad breath. The patients in the study who had previously been diagnosed with halitosis (bad breath) were able to reduce the levels of VSCs in their mouths by using daily gum or lozenges that contained S. salivarius K12. An additional study (Kang et al.) successfully reduced bad breath in patients who gargled twice a day for two minutes with 15 mL of Weissella cibaria CMU. Researchers also found that chewing gum containing probiotics significantly reduced levels of halitosis after a 14-day period (Keller et al.).

Smelly bacteria are abundant under the gum line of gingivitis sufferers, in periodontal pockets, and on the tonsils. If you suffer from bad-breath-causing ailments such as gingivitis, periodontal disease, or tonsil stones, many studies support the effectiveness of probiotics at reducing the bad breath these conditions cause, by repopulating your mouth with good bacteria. S. oralis and S. uberis were found to be beneficial because their presence usually signifies that the periodontal tissue is healthy (Chatterjee et al.).

Oral probiotics have also been found to benefit children. Probiotic-rich milk was effective at reducing the number of cavities in children, especially those between the ages of three and four. In the study conducted by Näse et al., the children were given milk containing the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG five days a week for seven months. This probiotic-rich milk proved beneficial to their dental health compared with that of the children who drank milk without the probiotic.

How Oral Probiotics Work

As we mentioned earlier, bad breath is often caused by an imbalance of bacteria in the oral cavity, where bad bacteria produce VSCs. Some strains of probiotics produce bacteriocins, proteins that reduce these VSC-producing bacteria. Probiotics reduce the amount of odor-causing bacteria by competing with them for nutrients, producing antimicrobial compounds, and changing the pH or acidity levels in the mouth to be more alkaline. This creates a healthier environment and inhibits the growth of bacteria that cause plaque.

Probiotics also reduce the amount of smelly bacteria by competing with them for sites on the surfaces in the mouth, sometimes called adhesion sites. To succeed, they need to be able to attach to and colonize these saliva-coated surfaces, as well as thrive and grow in the oral environment. Adhesion is necessary for them to crowd out bad bacteria and ultimately create a healthier biofilm in your mouth. This is why it is important to use probiotic species that are known to be effective at adhering to surfaces in the oral cavity. We discuss the ideal oral probiotic strains below.

The Best Way to Take Oral Probiotics

Probiotics come in many different types of products, from tablets to chewing gum. Many foods are rich in probiotics, such as yogurt, cheese, miso, tempeh, and fermented dairy products. Not all foods contain the strains of probiotic that are best at colonizing the oral cavity, so it’s ideal to look for oral probiotics designed specifically to improve your dental health. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to reap the most benefits from a specific product, and remember that taking probiotics is not a substitute for brushing your teeth and practicing good oral care. Brushing your teeth before consuming the probiotic is encouraged but not necessary. Try not to eat or drink anything for thirty minutes after consuming the probiotic, so that the good bacteria have the best chance to adhere to the surfaces in the mouth and begin colonizing.

Taking probiotics through a dissolving tablet, mints, gum, mouthwash, or toothpaste ensures that the probiotic has more contact with the tissue surfaces in the mouth, giving the good bacteria more chances to begin colonizing areas afflicted with stinky bacteria. If you purchase a probiotic in a capsule, you can open the capsule, pour the contents into a small amount of water, and gargle or swish it around in your mouth before swallowing.

To treat bad breath resulting from tonsil stones, it is recommended that you first gargle with an antiseptic mouthwash like chlorhexidine, followed by gargling with a probiotic mouthwash solution. This helps get rid of some of the bad bacteria that have colonized the tonsils.

To get the best results with oral probiotics, it is important to first lower the population of the anaerobic bacteria that cause bad breath. To do this, you need to consistently carry out proper oral health care measures, as outlined in our article How to Get Rid of Bad Breath.

How Long Before You Will Notice Results

You should notice results after seven days; however, some manufacturers maintain that there is an acclimation period of ten days. There isn’t a lot of research on how long the benefits of probiotics last or how often they should be used. If you aren’t seeing any benefits after a month, then that particular probiotic strain is unable to colonize your mouth, and you should discontinue use.

Precautions and Side Effects

While the safety of probiotics has not been adequately studied, they are for the most part generally regarded as safe, even for kids. Probiotics occur naturally in many foods, and beneficial bacteria can be found everywhere. There are some reports of stomach pain and diarrhea after consuming probiotics, and as with any new product you consume, there is always a chance of triggering an allergic reaction, although reactions to probiotics are rare. Despite their safety, probiotics are highly discouraged for those who are immunocompromised or have short bowel syndrome. Always consult your doctor before starting any new supplement to ensure there is no risk of interference with medications you may be taking.

The FDA does not usually regulate supplements (unless their safety is in question), so it is important to purchase probiotic supplements from a reputable source to ensure that you are receiving the amount and strains of probiotics advertised. Products that feature the Consumer Lab logo (consumerlab.com) have been independently tested and guaranteed to meet safety requirements and to deliver the stated strength and purity.

The Best Oral Probiotics

S. salivarius (Blis K12® and Blis M18®)

Blis K12 reviews have been very positive, and there is a lot of research to support its effectiveness. Blis K12 and Blis M18 are highly recommended probiotics for oral use. S. salivarius is effective at reducing halitosis because it eradicates the odor-causing S. mutans. Not only does this probiotic excel at breaking up plaque, preventing the loss of tooth enamel, and preventing cavities, but it also boosts the immune system, protecting against infections in the ear, nose, and throat. S. salivarius is often found in healthy mouths and is deficient in halitosis sufferers. It usually colonizes the tongue, tonsils, and throat area, so it is most helpful to take this probiotic through mouthwash, gum, or tablets that dissolve in your mouth. S. salivarius is shelf stable and usually doesn’t require refrigeration.

S. oralis KJ3, S. uberis KJ2, S. rattus JH145

This trio of probiotics works exceptionally well together at creating a healthy oral flora and preventing tooth decay. They reduce S. mutans and aid in maintaining tooth enamel. As an added benefit, S. oralis KJ3 and S. uberis KJ2 produce a very small amount of hydrogen peroxide, resulting in whiter teeth.

L. salivarius

Heals bleeding gums, tooth decay, and halitosis.

L. reuteri

Improves gingivitis symptoms.

Sources

  • Chatterjee A, Bhattacharya H, and Kandwal A. Probiotics in periodontal health and disease. J Indian Soc Periodontol. 2011 Jan-Mar; 15(1): 23-28.
  • Wescombe P, Hale J, Heng N, Tagg J . Developing Oral Probiotics From Streptococcus salivarius. Future Microbiol. 2012;7(12):1355-1371.
  • Burton JP, Chilcott CN, Tagg J. The rationale and potential for the reduction of oral malodour using Streptococcus salivarius K 12 on oral malodour parameters. J Appl Microbiol. 2006;100:754-64.
  • Keller MK, Bardow A, Jensdottir T, Lykkeaa J, Twetman S. Effect of chewing gums containing the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri on oral malodour. Acta Odontologica Scandinavica, May 2012, Vol. 70, No. 3 : Pages 246-250
  • Näse L, Hatakka K, Savilahti E, Saxelin M, Pönkä A, Poussa T, Korpela R, Meurman JH. Effect of long-term consumption of a probiotic bacterium, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, in milk on dental caries and caries risk in children. Caries Res. 2001 Nov-Dec;35(6):412-20.

Blis K12® and Blis M18® are registered trademarks and logos of BLIS Technologies, Ltd., New Zealand.