The administration of probiotic bacteria can reduce bad breath. This is the conclusion of an analysis of several studies examining the effect of probiotics on perceptible and measurable bad breath. The results show that probiotics administered via chewing gum or lozenges primarily reduce the formation of volatile—and smelly—sulfur compounds, especially hydrogen sulfide. The group led by Longjiang Li from Sichuan University in Chengdu, China, has published their study in the journal "BMJ Open."
Worldwide, approximately one-quarter of all people suffer from unpleasant bad breath, medically known as halitosis, at least occasionally. About six percent of people experience chronic bad breath. In more than 90 percent of cases, microorganisms in the oral cavity are responsible for the odor; diseases of the throat and nose, or the gastrointestinal tract are also possible causes.
In the mouth, it is primarily bacteria in the grooves of the tongue that produce foul-smelling gases by breaking down organic substances. These microorganisms can also be found on the teeth and in the gum pockets. Such bacteria can cause inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) and the periodontal ligament (periodontitis). Unless there is an underlying disease outside the oral cavity, halitosis is often treated by scaling, professional teeth cleaning, and tongue cleaning. Patients are usually shown how to improve their daily oral hygiene. Mouthwashes, antibiotics, and Probiotics have been used for several years.
Li and colleagues found 238 studies in medical databases investigating the effects of probiotics on bad breath. However, for their analysis, they only used high-quality studies with a control group, which also had to contain specific data. This resulted in seven studies with a total of 278 participants. In the studies, people assessed the severity of bad breath; some also measured volatile sulfur compounds in the breath. In some cases, plaque on the tongue and teeth was also examined.
Statistical analysis of the study results showed a significant reduction in perceptible bad breath when patients were administered probiotic bacteria. These bacteria included Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus reuteri, Streptococcus salivarius and Weissella cibaria. And from these Streptococcus salivarius The PRObiom ® Dental consists of.
