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Probiotics and Dental Health

Feb 13, 2018
Indianapolis Dentist Discusses Probiotics
The body is incredible and is set up to protect itself from invaders. Probiotics are hard at work within your body right now fighting to keep bacteria down. They aren’t just working in your digestive tract, but also in your mouth. With today’s newest innovations, we can even add a little extra supplementation as needed to keep the process working smoothly. 
 
What is a Probiotic?
 
Probiotics are microorganisms in numerous varieties that live within our body. Their main job is to work together with the healthy bacteria to fight off the dangerous bacteria. When the bad bacteria are allowed to grow and multiply, it brings destruction to our overall well-being.
 
Probiotics work in the same manner within your mouth. They prohibit the bad bacteria from overgrowing. When this bacteria runs freely, they consume more of the carbohydrates which are needed from your body for energy. 
 
Ideally, you want to have more of the good bacteria in your body than the bad bacteria. This is especially important in the mouth because bad bacteria leads to cavities and gum disease.
 
Help Your Mouth
 
It is possible for you to give the body a boost of the good bacteria. This is done through supplementation with a variety of over-the-counter products. As you introduce more of this healthy bacteria to your body, you will starve the bad bacteria and they won’t be able to multiply. Some of the most popular ways to increase your good bacteria colonies are through supplements, lozenges and rinses. 
 
If you are using a rinse, be sure to look for the ingredients S. salivarius K12 and M18. If you prefer a lozenge, you’ll want the products Streptococcus oralis KJ3, Streptococcus rattus JH145 and Streptococcus uberis KJ2.
 
Should Everyone Use Probiotic Supplements?
 
Probiotics are a natural part of your body functions, but anytime that you add more of something into the system; you should discuss the options with a doctor or your Indianapolis dentist. There are certain classifications of people that will thrive on probiotic supplements, like those with immune system disorders while others don’t need them at all. Seek professional counsel before adding any new over-the-counter remedies to your daily routines.