The role of the human microbiome is a key gateway for good health as researchers uncover deeper connections between the bacteria in our bodies and our overall health. Known to be one of the most powerful tools for preventative wellbeing, clinically proven probiotics are the cornerstone for oral care, immune support, inflammation control and optimised health as well as general GI health.
Here are six key reasons why probiotics will play a critical role in maintaining both gut and oral health in the year ahead:
1. Probiotics rebalance the oral microbiome
The mouth is home to over 700 bacterial species, forming one of the most complex microbial communities in the human body. When the oral microbiome falls out of balance (a condition known as ‘dysbiosis’), harmful bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans proliferate. These bacteria convert sugars into acid to weaken enamel, fuel plaque buildup and increase the risk of tooth decay.
Probiotic strains help by competing for space along the teeth and gums to make it harder for harmful bacteria to thrive. They also naturally produce antimicrobial substances (including bacteriocins) to inhibit cariogenic bacteria and help maintain a healthier pH environment.
Clinical research demonstrates these probiotics reduce plaque scores, support improved gum health, and enhance oral microbial diversity. As more dentists acknowledge the role of the microbiome in oral disease, oral probiotics will increasingly be recommended in addition to daily brushing and flossing.
2. Probiotics reduce gum Inflammation and strengthens periodontal health
Gum disease remains one of Australia’s most prolific chronic health problems, with up 3 in every 10 adults having moderate to severe gum disease. Gingivitis can easily progress into periodontitis, the more destructive form of gum disease linked to tooth loss, which emerging evidence has linked other serious conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and inflammatory disorders.
Specific strains can reduce the inflammatory load in the mouth by modulating local immune responses. This helps reduce redness and bleeding, stabilise the microbial ecosystem around the gums to support the body in fighting periodontal pathogens. This in turn lowers the severity of symptoms of inflammation.
Scientists believe poor gut health can amplify gum inflammation which is why a balanced gut microbiome directly influences the body’s inflammatory response. Probiotics can support both oral and digestive health to ensure optimal gum health.
3. Probiotics enhance digestive wellbeing and helps manage common gut issues
Digestive health remains the area most strongly associated with probiotics for good reason. The gut microbiome plays a central role in nutrient absorption, bowel regularity, and protecting the gut lining’s integrity.
On the other hand disruptions to gut bacteria from diet, stress, medication like antibiotics, travel, illness and lifestyle changes can cause or exacerbate an upset stomach, leaky bowel syndrome, and myriad digestive issues.
Today, we are increasingly aware of their gut’s connection to mood, immunity and inflammation. Probiotics restore microbial balance after disruptions to support better digestion, reduce gas, bloating and irregularity, and strengthen the intestinal barrier.
As the world’s most researched probiotic strain BioGaia’s flagship L. reuteri DSM 17938 has been proven to reduce symptoms of colic in babies and support overall gut health in people of all ages. Clinical studies demonstrate the efficacy of L. reuteri in improving gut motility and comfort, and its ability to quickly repopulate the gut with healthy gut flora.
4. Probiotics strengthen immunity starting in in the mouth and the gut
Around 70-80% of the body’s immune cells reside in the gut, which makes the gut microbiome a primary hotbed of immune activity. But emerging science also highlights the mouth as the first line of immunity defence as it is the gateway that determines which bacteria pass into the digestive system.
As we continue to be exposed to stress, poor sleep, and poor diet, immune support is one of the fastest-growing reasons consumers are turning to probiotics.
Oral probiotics reduce the presence of harmful bacteria in the mouth to help maintain healthier oral biofilms. They also reduce pathogen load before swallowing. Gut probiotics on the other hand support immune cell development, improve the body’s ability to distinguish between harmless and harmful microbes, and reduce the frequency and severity of certain infections.
5. Probiotics naturally reduces bad breath (halitosis)
Chronic bad breath is typically caused by bacteria on the tongue and gums which produce smelly volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs). Halitosis is linked to digestive health, which means gut health plays a role in those suffering from chronic bad breath. Traditional methods like mints, gum, and mouthwash may mask the symptoms, but they don’t address the underlying cause.
Once again certain probiotic strains help reduce the number of VSC-producing bacteria to restore microbial balance to the mouth. In the long term these offer a far more long-lasting and effective solution to bad breath than a breath mint.
6. Probiotics are a part of the global shift towards personalised wellness
2026 marks a major turning point in how we should approach supplements. We must seek out clinically validated, strain-specific probiotics that match the exact strains used in published studies.
Be aware not all probiotics are equal and that choosing a strain with a proven track record is the key to real results. Broad, non-specific formulas are fading in popularity as market demand for personalised wellness grows.
Manufacturers which use a science-first approach and offer clear, directly applicable clinical evidence will be well-positioned to capitalise on this market.
“The gut-oral-brain axis will continue to be a large part of the wellness conversation in 2026 which is why we have created products tailored to specific health outcomes,”
says Lotta Johansson, microbiologist and Scientific Affairs at BioGaia
“We now understand that oral and gut bacteria influence far more than digestion. Microbiome in the gut and mouth shape immunity, inflammatory response, mental health and overall wellbeing. Probiotics are one of the simplest and most effective ways to support all those systems daily. BioGaia is proud to actively invest in ongoing research to cement itself at the forefront of this very exciting area of science so that our consumers have access to the most effective, clinically-backed products.”
