Two recent studies support oral health benefits of certain probiotic strains.

Blis Technologies and Stratum Nutrition announced a new clinical study on the effects of oral-cavity probiotic, BLIS M18™ (Streptococcus salivarius), on the development of dental caries in children. The study was published in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dentistry and represents one of the pioneering attempts to analyze the significance of BLIS M18 in dental practice. The results show that BLIS M18 significantly improved the chances of avoiding new dental caries.

The randomized, controlled study was conducted on 76 children between the ages of six and 17 years that were classified as high-risk for dental caries on the basis of Cariogram results. Cariogram is a well-recognized, clinically proven software program that looks at different caries-related risk factors to aid clinicians in performing consistent dental caries risk assessments. 

Thirty-eight subjects were supplemented for 90 days with a formulation containing the oral cavity probiotic BLIS M18; the other half served as the control group and received no treatment. After 90 days of treatment with BLIS M18, there was a statistically significant reduction, by more than 30 percent, in the global Cariogram outcome, including parameters of “plaque amount" (50 percent reduction) and “mutans streptococci" (75 percent reduction). These decreases are likely to be a direct consequence of the BLIS M18 bacteriocins’ interactions with mutans streptococci, as well as M18’s ability to colonize in the oral cavity and produce the beneficial enzymes dextranase and urease, which are able to counteract plaque formation and saliva acidity. There was no statistical difference observed in the control group. BLIS M18 also demonstrated a good safety profile with no treatment-related side effects, as found in previous clinical trials. (Visit the Stratum Nutrition Global Storefront to learn more.)

Another study, published in Oral Health & Preventive Dentistry, showed periodontal disease may be improved through the daily intake of the immunobiotic lactobacillus HK L-137, the primary constituent of House Wellness Foods Immuno-LP20.

For the study, 39 subjects undergoing supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) were randomly administered either a daily placebo or a capsule containing 10 mg of HK L-137 over a period of 12 weeks. The results of the study indicate that 12 weeks of controlled administration of HK L-137 resulted in a dramatic improvement in periodontal condition, as shown by the probing depth of gaps and other areas that shelter and foster pathogenic organisms being demonstrably reduced.

The findings offer new insight into the benefits of daily oral intake of the immunopotentiator HK L-137, which comprises 20 percent of House Immuno-LP20.

HK L-137 can be used in both health foods and supplements. The unique Lactobacillus plantarum strain L-137 was derived from a fermentation process long used in traditional Southeast Asian food preparation. Its ability to promote stability and preserve the innate nutritional value of food made it a popular ingredient in powdered drinks for recent generations in Japan, due to its prodigious shelf life, wide-ranging versatility, and the fact that it is very easily used in drinks and imparts no unpleasant taste.