New research published in the journal PLoS ONE provides more evidence that the Streptococcus salivarius M18 probiotic, branded as BLIS M18, provides benefits for maintaining the health of the oral cavity.
 
The research was carried out in a collaboration between Western University and the developer of the probiotic, BLIS Technologies Ltd, and demonstrated that daily dosing with a single lozenge of BLIS M18 resulted in a greater than 80% (100 million probiotic/lozenge) and 90% (1 billion probiotic/lozenge), respectively, of individuals (healthy young adults) having detectable levels of the probiotic after 7 days administration. This is a marked improvement over previous BLIS M18 research using an earlier formulation (3.6 billion probiotic/lozenge), in which only 22% of school children had detectable salivary levels of BLIS M18 following three months of twice daily consumption. Despite these comparatively lower levels of probiotic persistence in the earlier placebo-controlled trial, a significant reduction in plaque formation was observed over the three months of the trial.
 
According to BLIS Technologies, BLIS M18 supports oral health because it produces and secretes several beneficial substances, including those that specifically target and inhibit oral pathogens such as Streptococcus mutans, bacteria that contribute to the development of dental caries. To be most effective, BLIS M18 must remain in the oral cavity for a sufficient duration to allow the production of these substances and the subsequent inhibition of undesirable bacteria.
 
Researchers reported a downward trend in S. mutans levels in volunteers who had detectable levels of BLIS M18 in their saliva. The improved persistence demonstrated in this latest trial indicates that the updated BLIS M18 formulation will result in a greater level of S. mutans reductions.
 
In addition to expanding current knowledge regarding the efficacy of BLIS M18, the safety is also supported by this study. The effect on the normal healthy oral microbiome of a sub-set of subjects was assessed via the use of total 16S RNA analysis of total salivary microbiota. The results indicated that there were no significant ecological shifts in the microbiota following the probiotic dosing, supporting that BLIS M18 colonization does not contribute to a non-specific disruption of indigenous microbiota in the oral cavity of healthy adults.
 
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