San Francisco, Marin, and Oakland, CA
Scientific evidence shows that probiotics are beneficial for people. From promoting healthy bacteria in the gut to boosting the immune system, probiotics could benefit your oral health as well. To understand more about probiotics, your board-certified dentists in Marin at Glen Park Dental answer the question, could probiotics improve oral health?
What are probiotics?
Living microorganisms that are usually found in some dietary supplements, yogurt, and some skincare creams are probiotics. In the human body, there are good and bad bacteria. Probiotics are microorganisms that are considered good bacteria that help the human body function. For example, our body contains bacteria in the gut and intestines, which are critical for immune function and digestion. Probiotics also prevent bad bacteria from harming our bodies, which is why your dentists in Oakland recommend consuming probiotics to assist with maintaining good oral health.
How do probiotics promote oral health?
There are several ways the good bacteria in probiotics could help promote your oral health:
- Reducing Plaque – One of the most common causes of tooth decay and cavities is plaque. Plaque is easiest to eliminate through brushing, flossing, and regularly visiting our Bay Area dental office for checkups and cleanings. However, research suggests that probiotics containing Streptococcus A12 may reduce plaque buildup.
- Reducing the Risk of Gum Disease – Gum disease is the advanced form of gingivitis, which is a common problem in adults. To help balance oral bacteria, the probiotics containing Lactobacillus reuteri have shown to assist in removing the microbes that cause gingivitis. In addition to balancing oral bacteria, probiotics have shown in some research that inflammation could be relieved when consuming probiotics or by drinking probiotic milk.
- Reducing the Occurrence of Thrush – Thrush is an oral disease caused by the fungus Candida albicans that typically occurs in infants and children. It could also occur in adults after taking antibiotics or using asthmatic inhalers as both reduce friendly microorganisms in your body. Probiotics could restore the good bacteria and reduce an outbreak of oral thrush.
- Reducing Bad Breath – It is common for people to use an antibacterial mouthwash to control bad breath. However, using antibacterial mouthwash removes both good and bad bacteria from your mouth, creating optimal conditions for bad bacteria to reproduce quickly. When you take oral probiotics, you could restore the good bacteria that help keep your mouth healthy.
How do I ingest probiotics?
Probiotics are ingested in one of two ways. The first way is by taking an oral probiotic supplement available at your local drug store or retailer. It is important that you follow the directions and consume the supplement as directed for the best effect. The second way is through eating probiotic-rich foods such as yogurt, aged cheeses, kefir, miso, and sauerkraut. By regularly adding these foods to your diet, you could experience oral health benefits.
Dentist in Marin, Oakland, and San Francisco
The state of your oral health could affect your overall health. When consuming probiotics, your health may improve while reducing your risk of common oral health concerns. If you would like to discuss how probiotics improve your oral health, feel free to contact your general dentists in San Francisco at Glen Park Dental by calling (415) 585-1500 or visit our website to request a consultation.
