In recent years, the concept of gut health has gained widespread attention, reflecting a growing recognition of the role that microbial communities play in human physiology.
While the gut microbiome has gained increasing public attention, the oral cavity represents a similarly critical yet often underappreciated ecosystem. The mouth hosts diverse bacterial communities on the teeth, tongue, gums, and in gingival pockets, each contributing to overall health. These communities not only influence oral conditions, such as cavities and gum disease, but can also affect the body more broadly.
The oral microbiome is significant because it serves as the body’s first point of contact with many microbes. Harmful bacteria in the mouth can trigger local disease processes and may travel to other parts of the body, potentially contributing to systemic health problems. Conversely, beneficial bacteria help maintain balance, protecting teeth and gums while supporting healthy immune responses.
Oral probiotics, specifically formulated to colonise and modulate the oral environment, offer a promising strategy to maintain microbial balance and promote both oral and systemic health. By leveraging mechanisms, such as bacterial competition, enzymatic activity, and immune modulation, these interventions may complement traditional oral hygiene practices and confer broader physiological benefits.
BLIS Technologies (BLIS) has been working on the development of oral probiotics over the last 25 years, recognising their potential to improve human health at all ages.
The next frontier after gut health
The oral cavity serves as a critical gateway to overall health, as many microbes entering the body first pass through the mouth. This makes the oral environment a primary point of contact between the body and the microbial world.
Within the mouth, diverse ecological niches support distinct bacterial communities. Teeth provide hard, non-shedding surfaces where biofilms can develop, while the tongue and gums offer moist environments conducive to different microbial populations. Gingival pockets, with their low-oxygen conditions, harbour anaerobic species that would not thrive elsewhere.
Each of these niches functions like a “suburb” within the oral ecosystem, with unique local dynamics and interactions that collectively contribute to the overall stability of the microbial community. When the stability of these microbial communities is disrupted, harmful bacteria can overgrow, leading to cavities and gum disease.
Wider than the mouth
The influence of the oral microbiome extends beyond the mouth, affecting systemic health in diverse and sometimes surprising ways. Certain pathogens in the oral cavity can contribute to disease processes elsewhere in the body. A well-known example is Streptococcus pyogenes infections, where bacteria involved in conditions like strep throat can trigger complications such as rheumatic fever or kidney disorders.
More recently, attention has focused on periodontal pathogens residing in the gums. Poor oral health, particularly periodontal disease, is linked to a range of systemic conditions. Evidence shows it increases the risk of conditions such as Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, and can even reduce fertility, with mechanisms often involving inflammation, bacterial invasion, or pathogen-specific effects like those of Porphyromonas gingivalis.1
Probiotics as a bridge between oral and systemic health
BLIS has developed oral probiotics that include Streptococcus salivarius BLIS M18TM and BLIS K12TM which are salivary probiotics native to the oral cavity. When delivered to individuals, the strains do not pass through the mouth. Instead, they colonise and exert their beneficial properties, such as the production of antimicrobials, and by restoring balance in the microbial community. Other beneficial aspects of the probiotics include producing enzymes that help control pH, plaque build-up, and reduce levels of key virulence factors.
BLIS M18 was specifically developed for maintaining dental periodontal health. Multiple clinical studies have shown that the probiotic can improve clinical scores of key periodontal health indicators, including gingival bleeding, gingival pocket depth and plaque accumulation.2-4
The company’s research suggests that the key factor likely to be driving the probiotic’s ability to improve periodontal health is its ability to inhibit the growth of P. gingivalis.5 Additional research has also shown that the probiotic can limit the ability of the bacterium to produce gingipains, the protease that causes periodontal disease.6
Recent research also suggests that the oral microbiome plays a significant role in systemic immune regulation, with dysbiosis linked to autoimmune disorders. BLIS Technologies’ probiotic strain, BLIS K12, has been studied for its potential to modulate immune responses by promoting a balanced oral microbial community.
BLIS K12 produces bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances that suppress pathogenic bacteria, reducing oral inflammation – a known contributor to systemic immune activation.7 The research indicates that maintaining a healthy oral microbiome with BLIS K12 may influence systemic immune markers, potentially mitigating autoimmune-related inflammation.8
Mechanisms of oral probiotic action
Oral probiotics support health by working directly within the complex ecosystem of the mouth, using several complementary mechanisms. One of the most significant is direct bacterial competition.
Beneficial strains such as Streptococcus salivarius K12 and M18 produce bacteriocins, which suppress harmful organisms, including those linked to strep throat and dental caries. By occupying ecological niches and releasing targeted antimicrobials, these probiotics reduce the opportunity for pathogenic bacteria to flourish.
Enzymatic activity provides a second layer of protection. Certain S. salivarius probiotic strains secrete enzymes, such as dextraneses, that break down the structural scaffolds of dental plaque, reducing its accumulation on teeth. Others exhibit acid-neutralising functions, countering the by-products of sugar metabolism and helping to preserve enamel integrity while maintaining a balanced oral pH environment.
Beyond these direct microbial effects, oral probiotics also interact with host immunity. They stimulate localised immune defences within the mouth and may influence systemic immune pathways, linking oral balance to broader health outcomes.
Importantly, probiotics are not a substitute for oral hygiene but rather complement it. Like seeding a well-kept lawn, introducing beneficial bacteria works best when brushing, flossing, and professional care maintain the environment in which they can thrive.
Extending oral care through innovation
The science of the microbiome is advancing rapidly, with new discoveries continually reshaping our understanding of how microbial communities influence human health. While much attention has focused on the gut, the oral cavity warrants a position of equal importance, with its links to both oral and systemic outcomes.
A unique advantage of the oral microbiome is its integration into daily routines. People already brush, floss, and use other oral care products regularly, which creates a natural opportunity to extend these practices with probiotics. Unlike interventions that require major behavioural changes, oral probiotics can be seamlessly added to existing routines, making adoption straightforward.
Delivery formats also favour practicality. Chewable tablets, lozenges, gums, and powders provide the extended contact time needed for colonisation, ensuring beneficial strains can establish themselves effectively. These products are safe and suitable across all ages, and introducing them early in life can help lay the foundation for lifelong oral health.
BLIS has played a central role in this evolving field. As the company that first brought an oral probiotic to market, it has continued to pioneer research and development in the area. BLIS also runs its own in-house R&D and works with partners to support clinical applications and formulation development – delivering solutions grounded in science, supported by real data, and tailored for efficacy.
To explore how BLIS probiotics can power your next oral health or immunity innovation, connect with the BLIS team at Supply Side Global.
References
- BLIS. Maintaining periodontal health to prevent systemic diseases.
- Babina, K.; et al. A Three-Month Probiotic (the Streptococcus salivarius M18 Strain) Supplementation Decreases Gingival Bleeding and Plaque Accumulation: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Dentistry Journal. 2024; 12(7):222.
- Scariya L.; et al. Probiotics in periodontal therapy. Int J Pharm Bio Sci. 2015; 6(1):242-250.
- Babina, K.; et al. Antigingivitis and Antiplaque Effects of Oral Probiotic Containing the Streptococcus salivarius M18 Strain: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Nutrients. 2023; 15(18):3882.
- Borgnakke, W.; et al. Current scientific evidence for why periodontitis should be included in diabetes management. Front. Clin. Diabetes Healthc. 2024; 4.
- Park, Ji-A.; et al. Oral Probiotics, Streptococcus salivarius K12 and M18, Suppress the Release of Volatile Sulfur Compounds and a Virulent Protease from Oral Bacteria: An In-Vitro Study. Oral health and preventative dentistry. 2023; 21: 259-270.
- BLIS. A promising link between BLIS K12™ & autoimmune modulation.
- Azeredo, L.A.I.; et al. Thermophilic protease production by Streptomyces sp.594 in submerged and solid-state fermentations using feather meal. Journal of Applied Microbiology. 2006; 100(4): 641-647.