ProBiora Health launches oral care probiotic lozenges for children, fighting bad breath and dental cavities

05 Apr 2022 --- US-based ProBiora Health is launching a probiotic aimed at supporting children’s oral health and overall well-being. The ProBioraKids is described as the first probiotic specially formulated to help protect against cavities and gum disease in children.

The product is dissolved in the mouth nightly after brushing and flossing. The saliva hydrates the probiotics, which will seek out their natural habitat, migrating to the tooth surfaces, gums, gum pockets and tongue where they live and compete with the pathogens.

“The rampant prevalence of cavities in early childhood, along with the development of periodontal disease (gum disease) in the majority of kids by age 17, is a serious public health concern,” says Dr. Mark Cannon, Professor at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University.

“Adding an oral-care probiotic to a child’s daily oral care routine is one of the most effective, preventative measures parents can take to help support their kids’ oral health, helping to crowd out the harmful bacteria that cause bad breath, cavities and more.”More than 20% of children between the ages of two and five have one or more cavities.

“First of its kind”
The item comes in an orange creamsicle lozenge. It is gluten-free, vegetarian friendly, with no artificial flavors, sweeteners or colors. It is described as safe to use with dental and orthodontic appliances.

“ProBioraKids is the first oral-care probiotic designed to promote strong teeth and gum health in kids, which benefits their overall health, too,” underscores Chris Koski, president and CEO of ProBiora Health.

“Other products that claim to be for kids’ oral health are not specially formulated for their oral health needs and do not include probiotic strains that live on the tooth and gum surfaces – rather, they contain bacteria that live in the throat or gut.”

The sector has been described as a large and underdeveloped market, with food, beverages and supplements holding potential in helping consumers in a bid to prevent dental diseases and boost their oral health.

Strain-specific benefits
ProBioraKids features ProBiora3, a patented blend of the three most beneficial strains of good bacteria naturally found in the mouth, according to the company. 

The strains naturally live on children’s teeth and below their gums. These include Streptococcus oralis KJ3, Streptococcus uberis KJ2 and Streptococcus rattus JH145. Formulated for tooth health, ProBioraKids aims to boost beneficial bacteria needed for healthier teeth, crowding out harmful, pathogenic bacteria and restoring the mouth’s natural balance.

“Getting kids started with a good oral care routine is critical for their lifetime health, including the use of an oral-care probiotic after brushing at night,” says Koski.

Chr. Hansen entered the dental health segment with a dissolvable probiotic lozenge that can help reduce acid-producing bacteria in the mouth. Three years in the making, the launch addresses consumer demand for convenient solutions to maintain oral health and offset the risk of developing cavities.

Ocean Spray also spotlighted its cranberry juice, rich in antimicrobial plant polyphenols to suppress the growth of bacteria linked to plaque formation, according to a study published in the journal Beverages.

Edited by Andria Kades