The probiotic mentioned in this blog post is a dietary supplement and is designed to be dissolved in the mouth and then swallowed to also support gut health.
Do you feel like no matter how many times you brush your teeth throughout the day (or how many tiny cups of extra-strength mouthwash you swish), you still need to pop a couple of mints and a piece of gum?
You’re not alone. In fact, studies show that about half of the people on this planet struggle with bad breath. For those afflicted, it can be a stressful and embarrassing ordeal...and it can also be incredibly stubborn.
Where Does Bad Breath Come From?
Ongoing research is taking a closer look at the root cause of bad breath, specifically examining the bacteria that live within our oral microbiome. It turns out that the bacteria that dwell beneath the surface of the tongue, throat, and tonsils can produce volatile, sulfur-producing compounds (VSC) that can lead to bad breath. Dry mouth can also contribute to the problem, making your mouth the perfect bad-breath breeding ground.
You Could Be Making It Worse
Typically, people try to disguise bad breath with any products they think will work—like mouth rinses, gums, sprays, and more. But not only do these often fall short of helping, they might be doing more harm than good!
While mouthwash kills most of the bad bacteria in your mouth, it also kills the good bacteria that can help to crowd out the odor-causing bacteria.
In fact, the best solution for freshening breath in the long term may be contrary to what was thought for years: Rather than focusing on wiping out all bacteria, leading experts now suggest that the best strategy is to replenish your oral cavity with strains of good bacteria, also known as probiotics.
How Oral Probiotics Can Freshen Breath
You already know how beneficial bacteria can work in the gut to support digestion and nutrient absorption.
Unlike antibiotics that indiscriminately target all bacteria, probiotics help to balance the good bacteria with the inhospitable microbes. Indeed, the health of your microbiome (the ecosystem of bacteria that reside in and on your body) relies on proper flora balance.
Oral probiotic formulas work to help crowd out some unwanted forms of microbes in the oral cavity by introducing beneficial bacteria that colonize and consume the resources that both need to survive and multiply.
These oral care probiotics can help support many aspects of oral health that many of us face each day by creating antibacterial proteins.
Here’s how it works: Most bacteria compete with other microorganisms for space and nutrients within the sinuses and oral cavity. This ongoing competition helps maintain a healthy balance of oral bacteria, keeping the non-odor-causing bacteria plentiful so there isn’t room for smelly compounds to flourish.
Using an oral probiotic on a consistent basis can replenish the levels of the beneficial S. salivarius bacteria in the mouth. As these microbes affix themselves to epithelial cells (cells that line the major cavities of your body, like your mouth), they can quickly travel and spread, supporting the balance of beneficial bacteria needed to freshen breath by helping to inhibit the growth of VSC-producing bacteria.
That’s why we’ve formulated Hyperbiotics Pro-Dental® Probiotic with key probiotic strains in mind.
Support Your Health With Oral Probiotics
In many ways, your mouth is not only your first line of defense, but also the gatekeeper of your health. Targeted bacterial strains included in a quality oral probiotic can help support oral health at the microbial level, even helping you maintain a healthy nose, throat, ears, and sinuses.
When your oral microbiome is populated with healthy probiotic colonies, you have a strong support system that can help keep your breath sweet and fresh. Oral probiotics can even help dissolve and loosen the sticky bits of debris surrounding your teeth, which can go a long way toward naturally healthy teeth and gums.
While many factors can contribute to the maintenance of oral health, taking an oral probiotic is a great place to start.
