More than 600 species of microbes, including bacteria, fungi, and more, reside in your mouth. Some of them benefit you, while some may be harmful. The good bacteria in your mouth, known as probiotics, are responsible for maintaining a healthy balance in your mouth. They fight harmful bacteria and prevent them from causing oral diseases such as cavities, gingivitis, etc.
Halitosis, or bad breath, is one of the most common concerns among New Yorkers. In some cases, it is due to severe tooth decay or damage that has been left untreated. To make sure your mouth stays healthy and free of bad breath, visit Middle Village, Queens emergency dentist today.
What are oral probiotics?
Your mouth is full of bacteria and microbes. Some of them cause you harm, while some also benefit you. Dental probiotics or oral probiotics are microorganisms that help your mouth fight harmful bacteria and keep them healthy and strong. The probiotics encourage good bacteria to multiply quickly to eliminate the harmful bacteria.
The bacteria in your mouth create an ecosystem called an oral microbiome, which is very crucial for your oral and overall health. Having a good oral microbiome means more production of good bacteria, which helps you fight and get rid of bad bacteria and benefits your oral health.
However, this balance can be disrupted if you fail to maintain good oral hygiene, stress, illness, medication, etc. This causes the harmful bacteria to multiply and cause oral health issues such as gum disease, cavities, bad breath, and even oral cancer in some rare cases.
Getting probiotics can benefit your oral health by inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria in your mouth, promoting good oral health.
How can probiotics help you prevent bad breath?
According to research, the human oral cavity contains various habitats that are colonized by bacteria, such as cheeks, teeth, tongue, gingiva, and palates. These can prevent the white blood cells from producing defensive enzymes, leading to various oral health complications.
If left untreated, you may even lose your tooth. The microflora bacteria in your mouth help you fight such harmful bacteria and play a vital role in creating a healthy oral microbiome.
The Streptococcus salivarius strains K12 and M18 are effective probiotics that help you fight bacteria that cause bad breath. These strains are also effective against dental decay, sore throat, and gingivitis.
Lactobacilli bacteria can help you fight harmful bacteria, restoring a healthy balance in your mouth. Researchers put this bacteria in chewing gum and asked people with gingivitis to chew it every day. After two weeks, it was seen that the teeth of the people were clear and free of plaque and sticky film that caused gum disease and cavities.
What are the best sources of oral probiotics?
Oral probiotics can be obtained from numerous sources. These are as follows:
- Foods: Foods such as yogurt, cheese, and kimchi are natural sources of probiotics. These foods can provide you with numerous probiotic strains that help your mouth stay healthy and strong. You can easily find these in several supermarkets throughout Queens.
- Supplements: Oral probiotic supplements are specially formulated to provide bacterial strains that benefit your oral health. These can be in the form of tablets, lozenges, capsules, liquids, or powders. Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Bifidobacterium, and Bacillus are some of the most common oral probiotic strains.
- Mouthwashes: Using mouthwashes can also be an excellent way to introduce beneficial bacteria into your mouth. These contain various probiotic strains that can help fight bad breath, reduce plaque, and fight gingivitis.
Visit your dentist today!
If you have bad breath, a temporary solution can be using a mouth rinser or mouthwash. However, to prevent this issue from escalating, schedule a dental appointment in New York as early as possible. Your dentist will diagnose your condition and recommend the best course of action. If you do not treat your bad breath, it could lead to worse conditions in the long run.
