The potential of probiotics in oral microbiome health

An imbalanced oral microbiome is a key contributor to the development of dental caries, periodontitis, and halitosis. Probiotics offer promising solutions to help restore microbial equilibrium and support sustained oral health.

What We Know:

• Research increasingly shows that oral diseases are influenced not only by individual pathogens or opportunistic bacteria, but by the overall structure and function of the microbial community. It is therefore essential to study the oral microbiome as an integrated ecosystem rather than focusing solely on single species (Yu et al., 2024).

• Several species have been investigated for their probiotic potential in oral care, including Lactobacillus plantarum and Weissella cibaria.

• A recent review on L. plantarum highlights its capacity to suppress opportunistic species such as Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans, as well as reduce oral inflammation. These properties suggest its potential use in caries and periodontitis prevention (Huang et al., 2024).

• Clinical studies of W. cibaria have demonstrated reductions in volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), improved halitosis scores, and better gingival health. One trial observed changes in microbiota composition and a reduction in bleeding on probing following 8 weeks of supplementation (Han et al., 2023).

• These probiotics appear to act through a combination of mechanisms: competitive exclusion of opportunistic species, production of antimicrobial compounds like bacteriocins, modulation of pH, and immune system interactions.

• Common delivery formats include lozenges, chewable tablets, mouth rinses, and functional chewing gums—formulations that promote direct contact with oral surfaces and support colonisation (Kang et al., 2020).

Industry Impact and Potential:

While short-term benefits of oral probiotics are well supported, long-term colonisation and sustained effects remain a key focus. Studies show that microbiome changes can reverse once probiotic intake stops, highlighting the need for well-designed longitudinal studies to assess durability and safety over time (Yu et al., 2024).

Our Solution:

Sequential provides a comprehensive end-to-end Microbiome Product Testing Solution coupled with expert guidance in product development and formulation. Drawing on our extensive expertise, we collaborate with businesses to pioneer innovative strategies for creating topical treatments that, for example, may harness the power of probiotics.

References:

Huang, X., Bao, J., Yang, M., Li, Y., Liu, Y., & Zhai, Y. (2024). The role of Lactobacillus plantarum in oral health: a review of current studies. Journal of Oral Microbiology, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/20002297.2024.2411815

Han HS, Yum H, Cho YD, Kim S. Improvement of halitosis by probiotic bacterium Weissella cibaria CMU: A randomized controlled trial. Front Microbiol. 2023 Jan 17;14:1108762. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1108762. PMID: 36733919; PMCID: PMC9886871.

Kang, MS., Lee, DS., Lee, SA. et al. Effects of probiotic bacterium Weissella cibaria CMU on periodontal health and microbiota: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. BMC Oral Health 20, 243 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-020-01231-2

Yu X, Devine DA, Vernon JJ. Manipulating the diseased oral microbiome: the power of probiotics and prebiotics. J Oral Microbiol. 2024 Jan 31;16(1):2307416. doi: 10.1080/20002297.2024.2307416. PMID: 38304119; PMCID: PMC10833113.