Probiotics and Cavities - What You Need to Know
Here are some key points to understand why probiotics protect your teeth
* Plaque is made up of many different kinds of bacteria - you know that a dentist always tries to remove plaque, but did you know that what we think of as "plaque" is actually a variety of oral bacteria that adhere to our teeth and gums? This "biofilm" is a community of bacteria that serve different roles and rely on each other to survive.
* Plaque isn't necessarily bad - much of dental research has focused on particular bacterial strains in plaque like Streptococcus mutans that produce acid which cause cavities. But if this same strain is present with an alkaline producing bacteria, then it doesn't cause cavities because its effects are cancelled out. Plaque is only bad when it is out of balance from a bacterial standpoint.
* Kill 'em all does not work - Western medicine often advocates the use of antibiotics anytime a patient has a bacterial infection. While antibiotics do provide short term relief, constipation and other negative side effects often result because killing all the bacteria in the intestines (beneficial and harmful) leaves the body open to colonization by harmful microbes and causes constipation. Laxatives can barely help this form of constipation because they don't contain the probiotics the intestines need to function properly.
The link between cavity relief & constipation cures
The same principle of "Kill em all" applies to your teeth. When dentists remove all the plaque from your teeth, they eliminate helpful bacteria as well. Often, pathogenic bacteria are the first to move in and your teeth may end up being worse off than they were before. This is where cutting edge probiotic treatments are coming into play.
In recent studies, researchers have found that when probiotics like Lactobacillus rhamuosus were taken by kindergarten children, a reduction in cavities occurred. Other research has shown that certain probiotics seem to reduce the amount of Streptococcus mutans (the acid producing bacteria) present in plaque while not hurting other part of the plaque biofilm. Think of the probiotic as a targeted smart bomb that only fights the harmful bacteria instead of wiping out everything living in your mouth.
This research is making it clear that the biofilm in our mouth isn't much different than the bacteria in our gut. To effectively treat issues present in either area requires precision. Probiotics offer this precision. In numerous studies of patients needing constipation relief, constipation was cured by a probiotic supplement that helped feed the colon's beneficial cells instead of killing them.
Constipation ReliefJust like with plaque, chronic constipation is best cured not with a one-time laxative or antibiotic, but with the introduction of organisms that will keep the gut in balance over the long-term. Humans have been relying on this intricate balance since the beginning of the species and it is time we harness its power in our medicine.
Nydia Fieldcroft is an avid consumer and researcher of natural products. She used her passion for supplements to cure her chronic constipation and insomnia. She currently works in the natural products industry.