Our microscopic fellow travelers are all the rage today,
rating their own study group known as the Human Microbiome Project. I’ve long recommended intestinal probiotics
for years to my patients as they’re treated for infections in an effort to
avoid some of the intestinal upset associated with antibiotics. I never gave a thought to probiotics for oral
and dental health until I was invited to try this brand for review.
Probiotics means ‘for life’, referring to the beneficial
relationship we’ve developed with the enormous numbers of bacteria living on
our surfaces. Latest research suggests
that as many as 700 different varieties hang out in our mouth where the living
is easy—warm, wet, with a frequent barrage of incoming nutrients. Depending on which microbes set up shop in
our mouths, we are more or less prone to bad breath, cavities, gingivitis, or upper
respiratory infections. Here’s the scoop
on the bacterial blend in Pro-Dental:
Lactobacilli paracasei:
This germ is a gem. Italian researchers added L paracasei to ‘an
artichoke product’ (?!?), and volunteers ate 180 gm of the probiotic-chokes over
15 days while a control group ate the lactobacilli-less variety. The bacteria survived the acid journey
through the upper GI tract, colonized the colon, and ‘antagonized’ the e coli
and colistridium bacterium already in residence there. The latter is an increasingly common cause of
serious colon infections after antibiotic therapy. In addition, a sub-study of constipated study
subjects found their symptoms much improved post-use of probiotic-spiked
artichokes. In a dental sense, daily use
of L paracasei-containing toothpaste developed in Germany has proven effective
in reducing by 50% the amount of streptococcus mutans in users’ mouths without
affecting other useful bacterial communities living therein. Strep mutans is known to form bio-films on
oral surfaces—picture bacteria eating, working, playing in slimy sheets on your
teeth and gums, then metabolizing sugars to acids that decay your teeth,
inflame your gums, and confound your immune system!
Lactobacilli reuteri:
This amiable microbe also competes with Strep mutans, seriously disrupting
its biofilm gangs. In a study population, significant decreases of s mutans
populations were noted after 3 weeks of L reuteri supplements per day. Note that probiotics must be ingested daily
in order to avoid their elimination from the oral cavity or GI tract.
Streptococcus salivarius:
As opposed to Strep mutans (and group A strep—the cause of strep
throat), this Strep salivarius is a good guy.
The K12 strain has been shown in various studies to decrease the
incidence of strep throat, tonsillitis, and viral upper respiratory infections
in small children and adults with medical histories of frequent infections of
both varieties. It also looks promising
as a preventive measure against oral thrush, a fungal infection of the mouth
common in the elderly and persons with immune deficiencies. The M18 strain was
a stand-out in a study of kids prone to cavities and plaque—New Zealand researchers
found that Strep mutans bacterial counts dropped most dramatically in those young
subjects best colonized by Strep salivarius M18 after 3 months of probiotic
use.
My hygienist informs me that I’m outliving my gums which seem
to be receding down to my chin and up towards my cheeks. The result, she promises, will be cavities
along what formerly was known as my gum-line. Dental probiotics and an upscale
sonic brush are, therefore, my teeth’s newest best buddies!
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