Postbiotic foods for improving gum health

Foods containing heat-inactivated bacteria help reduce gum bleeding and improve inflammatory conditions

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Institute of Science Tokyo

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Foods containing  heat-inactivated Lactiplantibacillus pentosus can help prevent gingivitis and maintain oral health.

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Credit: Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Japan

Continuous consumption of foods containing heat-inactivated Lactiplantibacillus pentosus can help reduce gum bleeding, report researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo. These postbiotic foods can improve inflammatory conditions and enhance gum health in adults with mild gingivitis. The study suggested that these postbiotic foods offer a simple and practical way to support oral health in daily life without altering oral care habits. The findings also aid in the prevention of early-stage periodontal disease.

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, affects millions of people worldwide. In early stages, known as gingivitis, the gums become swollen and are prone to bleeding. While professional dental care and regular oral hygiene is important for prevention of the disease, researchers are exploring innovative approaches that can support gum health in everyday life. One promising strategy is the use of probiotic (beneficial bacteria) for maintaining gum health. However, these usually disturb the natural balance of microorganisms in the oral cavity. Also, these probiotics possess a shorter shelf life and are less stable.

Addressing this issue, a research team led by Professor Takanori Iwata along with Assistant Professor Shogo Maekawa, and Visiting Lecturer Anhao Liu from the Department of Periodontology, Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Japan, in collaboration with Associate Professor Megumi Ishiguro of the Health Science Research and Development Center, Science Tokyo, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Tokyo Center Clinic, Japan, investigated if postbiotic foods containing heat-inactivated bacteria (Lactiplantibacillus pentosus ONRICb0240) could help improve gum health and reduce bleeding without disrupting normal oral bacteria. The findings were published online in the Journal of Periodontology on April 19, 2026.

“We conducted a clinical trial on 116 adults who were suffering from mild gingival inflammation,” explains Iwata. The participants were randomly allocated to receive either the gummies containing heat-inactivated bacteria or placebo (non-loaded) gummies. The gummies were consumed twice daily for six weeks. The participants were not given any special instructions regarding tooth brushing or additional oral care, which allowed the researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of the gummies under realistic conditions.

At the end of the study, the researchers evaluated the gum health and gingival index (a measure of gum inflammation) of the participants. Surprisingly, the participants who had consumed the postbiotic gummies experienced less gum bleeding and their gums appeared healthier and stronger overall, compared to those who received the placebo gummies. For the gingival index, no significant difference was observed between the groups; however, a significant improvement from baseline was observed in the test group.

“By evaluating the gummies under normal daily living conditions, we were able to better understand their practical potential for supporting gum health,” says Iwata.

The significance of the study lies in the use of heat-inactivated bacteria rather than live probiotics strains. Heat-inactivated bacteria are generally more stable during manufacturing and storage, making them easier to convert into consumer products than live bacteria. In addition to this, the researchers believe that the anti-inflammatory effects of the postbiotic gummies might be responsible for the reduction in gum bleeding. Since gum bleeding is one of the earliest warning signs of gingivitis, reducing inflammation at this stage could help prevent the progression to more serious periodontal disease.

Overall, the research provides a simple and convenient method that can be added to routine oral care practices. It also highlights the growing potential of functional foods and probiotic-derived ingredients in preventive healthcare. Looking ahead, the researchers plan to investigate the underlying biological mechanisms and evaluate the long-term benefits of these gummies for periodontal health.

Fasting-mimicking diet reduces gum disease inflammation

 

People who follow a short-term low-calorie diet may have reduced markers of inflammation associated with gum disease.

Peer-Reviewed Publication

King's College London

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People who follow a short-term low-calorie diet may have reduced markers of inflammation associated with gum disease.

A new study by King’s College London highlights how lifestyle modifications could be important alongside plaque control in managing gum disease.

While fasting has been linked to reduced inflammation around the body, this is the first to establish a relationship with gum disease too. The findings offer new insights into how oral and wider body health are closely intertwined.

Dr Giuseppe Mainas, first author of the study, King’s College London, said: “Our study suggests lifestyle modifications could be important alongside proper tooth brushing for patients.”

Periodontitis, a serious form of gum disease, affects millions of people worldwide and has been linked to wider health problems, including heart disease and diabetes. While standard treatment focuses on cleaning infected areas around the teeth, researchers are increasingly exploring whether diet can play a role in improving outcomes.

The research included 28 patients from across hospitals in Spain, split into two groups – those who followed a five-day restrictive diet, versus a control group who continued their usual diet.

Patients who fasted ate 1,100 calories for two days, then 750 calories for three days. The sixth day gently introduced more calories with soft foods – then their diets returned to normal by the seventh day. This was repeated three times in six months, with patients reporting the diet easy to stick to.

After six months, samples were analysed from the patients’ blood and gingival crevicular fluid – liquid that comes from the small space between your tooth and gum, which helps gums stay healthy and fight germs.

Those who fasted had reduced markers of inflammation in samples from blood and gum tissue compared to those whose diets stayed the same, including lower levels of C-reactive protein, a general indicator of inflammation around the body. The fasting group also had reduced molecules linked to inflammation specifically in the gums, compared to controls.

Senior-author Prof Luigi Nibali, King’s College London, said: “There may be multiple reasons why fasting is beneficial to gum disease patients. Fasting reduces oxidative stress in the body, a common cause of inflammation, which can damage cells and DNA.

“Intake of high calorific foods and refined carbohydrates, for example in cakes and biscuits, can also cause inflammation – so restricting these foods also reduces oxidative stress in the body.

“It may also be that fasting has beneficial effects on the microbiome – the body’s community of bacteria that help to keep it healthy. However, further research is needed to confirm this relationship.”

Dietary approaches such as fasting-mimicking diets could be investigated in the future as supporting approaches alongside conventional therapies for gum disease, such as professional cleaning and oral hygiene support.

Dr Mainas added: “Now we have established this relationship, we would like to do a larger study, before potentially incorporating into gum disease treatment in the future. There may be patients where restricting foods can be dangerous, such as those with diabetes, so the advice will need to be targeted to specific patient groups. We are currently investigating how we could implement these benefits in high-risk groups who may not be able to fast.”

The study builds on long-standing research by King’s College London investigating the relationship between gum disease and wider health. Last year, researchers at King’s discovered following the mediterranean diet reduces gum disease, and that successful dental treatment reduces risks of diabetes and heart disease.

This study was published in Journal of Clinical Periodontology (JCP).

Diabetes is associated with tooth and implant loss

 

Reports and Proceedings

University of Gothenburg

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Anna Trullenque Eriksson, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg.

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Credit: Photo: Majk Zanqrelle)

Persons with diabetes have an increased risk of periodontitis (gum disease) and tooth loss. The risk of inflammation and bone loss at dental implants was also higher. These are the findings of a thesis at the University of Gothenburg.

Diabetes is associated with complications in multiple organs, including the oral cavity. As a group, persons with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are at higher risk for oral diseases.

This thesis is based on a comprehensive dataset from seven Swedish registers covering a long time period, with a high degree of completeness. The thesis was presented by dentist Anna Trullenque Eriksson, who specializes in periodontology.

The thesis addresses the link between the systemic condition diabetes and the oral conditions periodontitis, tooth loss and peri-implantitis (an inflammatory disease in the tissues surrounding dental implants). Compared with previous studies, the study sample is strikingly large, particularly for type 1 diabetes. 

Glycemic control matters

Persons with type 1 diabetes and poor control of blood sugar levels were found to have an increased risk of periodontitis and tooth loss, compared to matched controls without diabetes. However, no such differences were evident for those with continuously good glycemic control.

In the case of type 2 diabetes, the risk of periodontitis and tooth loss was elevated, regardless of blood sugar control. The correlation was strongest when glycemic control was poor. In turn, periodontitis was linked to an increased risk of diabetes-related eye and kidney complications in both diabetes types.

Among individuals with dental implants, those with type 1 or type 2 diabetes were at higher risk of peri-implantitis and implant loss. Poor blood sugar control was a key factor for poor implant outcomes.

The risk of complete tooth loss was particularly high among persons with diabetes who were also socio-economically disadvantaged (lower income, shorter education), highlighting the importance of socioeconomic factors. Data from both Sweden and Denmark were considered.

Important to be aware of the risks

The thesis reinforces previous evidence of a link between diabetes and oral diseases and stresses the importance of close collaboration between health care and dental care providers. The findings on dental implants are novel, suggesting that diabetes may affect long-term outcomes of implant therapy.

“Within the dental community, most are aware of the link between diabetes and impaired oral health. Our data support the notion that dental care should be part of diabetes prevention strategies,” states Anna Trullenque Eriksson.

Thesis: Periodontal research using nationwide registry data, https://hdl.handle.net/2077/90395

Fact box: Tooth loss and diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (analyses based on 86,273 individuals; mean age 43 years)

• 33.9% had lost one or more teeth over a 10-year period (25.3% among those with good glycemic control; 43.5% among those with poor control). Among matched controls without diabetes 29.0% experienced tooth loss.
• 3.1% had lost five or more teeth over ten years (good control: 1.0%; poor control: 5.6%). The corresponding figure for controls was 1.9%.

Type 2 diabetes (analyses based on 786,305 individuals; mean age 60 years)

• 46.1% had lost one or more teeth over a 10-year period (44.0% among those with good glycemic control; 54.9% among those with poor control). Among matched controls without diabetes 37.8% experienced tooth loss.
• 7.0% had lost five or more teeth over ten years (good control: 5.7%; poor control: 12.6%). The corresponding figure for controls was 3.7%.