Your mouth is teeming with friendly – and not so friendly - bacteria. Oral probiotics can help keep them in balance and contribute to fresher breath and healthier teeth and gums.
🕒 5 min read
Your mouth is not just about smiling, talking and eating. It also houses one of your body’s largest communities of bacteria - second only to your gut. Called the oral microbiome, it plays a key role in helping maintain healthy teeth and gums.
700
that’s how many different species of bacteria live in your mouth.
These microscopic organisms nestle in their own special niches – on your teeth and gums, tongue, inside cheeks, palate and throat as well as in saliva - which provide a perfect habitat for them to thrive.
Why consider an oral probiotic?
A healthy balance of oral bacteria helps keep your teeth and gums healthy and breath fresh. But that balance can get out of kilter as a result of a slew of factors including diet and lifestyle.
A diet high in starchy, sugary foods, stress, a dry mouth (often caused by medication), smoking, vaping or simply getting older can make it easier for unfriendly bacteria to take hold.
Brushing, flossing, using toothpicks, a tongue scraper and/or a water flosser, along with regular dental check-ups, can help keep your mouth clean and healthy. But with the best will in the world those unfriendly bacteria can still lurk in the mouth’s nooks and crannies. The result? Gum disease, tooth decay, bad breath and more.
Keeping the balance
An oral probiotic could help, working alongside your daily brushing and flossing routine to support a healthy, balanced mix of bacteria.
Healthspan’s Oral Health Biotic is a fresh, spearmint-flavoured chew designed to support oral health. It provides two probiotic strains with properties found in healthy human saliva to help maintain a balanced oral microbiome, together with vitamins and minerals known to support healthy teeth and gums.
Each chew delivers 2 billion CFU (colony-forming units), carefully chosen to offer optimum support to your oral microbiome. Made with xylitol - a natural sugar alcohol used in dental care to help reduce dry mouth and cavity-causing bacteria - the chews are formulated to dissolve slowly, allowing their active ingredients to home in exactly where needed.
The science behind the ingredients
BLIS K12™ and BLIS M18™
Healthy saliva is vital for good mouthkeeping. BLIS K12™ and BLIS M18™ are two well-researched strains of a bacterium, Streptococcus salivarius, naturally found in healthy saliva.
Backed by more than 110 studies and 40-plus clinical trials , research shows these strains can work together to help maintain a healthy balance of oral bacteria and support fresher breath. How? By crowding out unfriendly bacteria and producing natural substances that limit their growth.
BLIS K12™ found mainly on the tongue and in the back of the mouth i can help:
- Target the molecules that cause bad breath and stop them sticking to mouth surfaces
- Reduce plaque.
BLIS M18™ a close relation of BLIS K12™ dubbed a protective ‘force field around the oral cavity’ can help:
- Block and buffer the bacteria that cause tooth decay
- Support a healthy balance of beneficial bacteria
As well as helping support a healthy oral microbiome, research suggests lozenges containing BLIS K12™ and BLIS M18™ can help reduce the risk of tooth decay.
Added nutrients to help support BLIS K12™ and BLIS M18™
These include:
- Vitamin D which contributes to the maintenance of normal teeth
- Vitamin C which contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of your gums and teeth
- Calcium needed for the maintenance of normal teeth
A convenient addition to your oral health routine
Oral probiotics aren’t an alternative to brushing, flossing, a balanced diet or dental checkups. But used consistently they can help maintain a healthy balance of oral bacteria.
After brushing and flossing at night simply chew one or two lozenges letting them dissolve slowly. The warm, moist environment of your mouth together with naturally reduced saliva flow at night creates the ideal conditions for BLIS K12™ and BLIS M18™ to get to work. It’s the perfect last step in your daily mouthkeeping routine.
Who is it good for?
You may want to consider an oral probiotic if you:
- Worry about bad breath or tooth decay
- Have gum disease – signs include plaque build-up, bleeding gums, sensitive teeth or receding gums
- Have a dry mouth – caused by dehydration, certain drugs or medical treatments, mouth breathing at night, anxiety and some illnesses
- Smoke or vape – research shows vaping alters the oral microbiome
- Lead a busy life and want a portable product to support oral health
- Already take gut probiotics and want to support your mouth microbiome too
Q & A
Can I use Oral Health Biotic with mouthwash?
A.Yes but avoid using immediately after a strong antiseptic rinse, as this may reduce the effectiveness of the live bacteria.
How long before I notice fresher breath?
A.It varies but many notice improvements within a few weeks. Consistency is key, so make Oral Health Biotic part of your nightly tooth-care routine.
How do oral probiotics differ from gut probiotics?
A.Oral probiotics are designed to colonise the mouth and support the oral microbiome, while gut probiotics target the digestive tract. That’s because while the two sites are interconnected each contains bacterial strains specifically adapted to thrive in that environment.
Can I take it alongside a gut probiotic?
A.Yes. Because oral probiotics and gut probiotics such as Healthspan’s Super20® Probiotic or Triple Action Biotic work in different parts of the body and support different microbiomes (see above) they make perfect partners
What about other supplements?
A.Oral Health Biotic also works with Healthspan’s wide range of bone and teeth support supplements such as Osteo Complete® Bone Support
Is it suitable for vegetarians?
A.Yes, Oral Health Biotic contains no animal ingredients.
Oral Health Biotic
For healthy teeth, gums and fresh breath
- Advanced probiotic strains to support your oral microbiome
- Spearmint flavoured chewable tablets
- With calcium and vitamins C & D3
