The Personalized Breath Mint: Discover the Healthy Benefits of Oral Biotic Lozenges

Your oral health is connected to everything

“Oral health” means so much more than a nice, white smile and fresh breath.

While you are probably already aware of your gut microbiome, did you know that your mouth is home to nearly 700 species of microbes called the oral microbiome? These microbes live synergistically within our mouths and provide both helpful and harmful functions, from the protection against harmful invaders (pathogens) to the promotion of cavities and inflammation of the gums. The health of your mouth and, as you will see, your entire body, relies on achieving the right balance of beneficial functions in your oral microbiome.

Your mouth is the gateway to your body. The thin barrier of your gums is the only thing separating any harmful microbes (or their metabolites) from your bloodstream and therefore, the rest of your body. The connections between oral bacteria and systemic health are hot topics of many scientific research studies presently.

Oral health, old school-style

Even now, most oral hygiene practices focus on killing off bacteria in the mouth. Disinfecting and alcohol-based mouthwashes do just that with the promise they will give you a clean, fresh mouth and breath.

Unfortunately, this leaves the mouth with very few bacteria, killing beneficial bacteria along with the harmful ones. Instead of achieving a balance for your oral microbiome, the solution of wiping out everything also leaves you without the helpful functions that you need for good oral health. 

Changing the paradigm of oral hygiene

We at Viome aim to reframe the way you approach your oral health. 

First, the key is to get a snapshot of the current state of your oral microbiome health. And voila, we introduced our Oral Health Intelligence Test. With a simple saliva sample, you can get a deep look into the unique activity of your oral microbiome, and get insights into symptoms like cavities, bad breath, and gum sensitivity.

And next, instead of using a generic, off-the-shelf product, we introduce our precision-formulated VRx∙My Biotics Oral Lozenges. These lozenges are designed to replenish and nourish your oral microbiome.* Each formulation contains probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, and more, with a formula selected specifically for you based on your oral health test results.

No ordinary “breath mint”

When it first hits your tongue, the VRx∙My Biotics Oral Lozenge has a clean, fresh, minty taste. But that’s where the comparisons end between mints you can find in the grocery checkout line and Viome oral lozenges. 

Typical breath mints are very close to candy, containing not much more than sugar, and/or corn syrup (or artificial sweeteners like aspartame), artificial flavor, and stearic acid (used as a lubricant). They make your mouth feel cool and nice for a few minutes but leave the residue of sugar in your mouth and on your teeth, tongue, and gums, where the opportunistic bacteria in your oral microbiome use it as a banquet to produce harmful metabolites. The result? A breeding ground for future cavities, and definitely more bad breath. Which is why you popped the mint in the first place! 

As said before, there is no comparison at all. Viome’s new oral lozenges mark the very first that a personalized oral biotic of this kind has been brought to market. The Viome Clinical Nutrition team worked extensively with hand-selected ingredients, researching in an exhaustive process to choose only the ones found most effective. All ingredients, along with a knowledge base of their specific benefits to oral health–are supported by peer-reviewed research. 

VRx∙My Biotics Oral Lozenges are the first-ever personalized oral prebiotic, probiotic, and postbiotic formula that keeps working to support and protect your mouth even after you brush.

The multifaceted approach to oral health

Prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics have emerged as promising interventions for modulating the oral microbiome and improving oral health.* VRx∙My Biotics Oral Lozenges provide specialized ingredients that address different aspects of your oral health, providing essential nutrients and antioxidants.*

Prebiotics

To support those beneficial microbes and help freshen breath.*¹,²,³ 

Probiotics

To help support your oral microbiome, and healthy teeth and gums.*⁴

Postbiotics

To help modulate your immune defenses and boost microbiome functions.*⁵

Plus, each lozenge formulation contains a minimum of 30 billion cells total of both probiotics and postbiotics.

And other ingredients

In addition to prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics, your lozenge formula may contain other ingredients such as minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants that can support oral health.

Zinc: Science says that the mineral zinc may freshen breath by binding to volatile sulfur compounds and removing them from the breath.*⁶

Amino acids: Science says that amino acids, such as arginine, can help prevent tooth decay by promoting the remineralization of enamel.*⁷

Antioxidants: Science says that antioxidants, like lycopene, can help protect oral tissues from oxidative stress and inflammation.*⁸

Turn your regular routine into a robust oral care system 

The addition of VRx∙My Biotics Oral Lozenges enhances your regular routine, delivering over 30 billion cells of beneficial bacteria and personalized ingredients, helping bring your oral microbiome back into balance.*  

You can take it at any time of the day, but why not make it a full experience? 

For best results, add your lozenge to your nightly oral care routine: brush, floss or water floss, tongue scrape, etc. Once the oral biofilm (also known as dental plaque) is removed with brushing or mouthwash, the beneficial oral probiotics can effectively colonize the oral cavity and do their good work.

Have a mindful moment. Place the lozenge on your tongue, experience the fresh taste, and let it slowly dissolve. You can roll it around in your mouth as well, to help it dissolve and coat your entire mouth. You may find that it takes some time to dissolve, so it’s okay to chew it up if it hasn’t fully dissolved after about 5-7 minutes. Be sure to avoid food or drink for at least 30 minutes after dissolving. 

You’ll probably notice an immediate improvement in the freshness of your breath. Rebalancing the oral microbiome can take time, but also know that those billions of bacteria are going to work to help protect your teeth and gums from harmful microbial activity, support your immune system, and promote overall health throughout your body.*

Check in with your dentist at your next cleaning; they may see a healthier mouth!

Find out more about VRx∙My Biotics Oral Lozenges

References:

¹ Davani-Davari, D., Negahdaripour, M., Karimzadeh, I., Seifan, M., Mohkam, M., Masoumi, S. J., Berenjian, A., & Ghasemi, Y. (2019). Foods, 8(3).

² Oike, H., Aramaki, K, Tokunaca, T., et al. (1999). Bioscience Microflora. Volume 19 (I) 51-59, 2000.

³ Mousquer, C. R., Bona, A. D., Milani, D. C., Callegari-Jacques, S. M., Ishikawa, K., Alves Mayer, M. P., Rösing, C. K., & Fornari, F. (2020). Journal of Periodontology, 91(6), 775-783.

⁴ Mack, D. R. (2005). Canadian Family Physician, 51(11), 1455-1457.

⁵ Ozma, M. A., Abbasi, A., Akrami, S., Lahouty, M., Shahbazi, N., Ganbarov, K., Pagliano, P., Sabahi, S., Köse, Ş., Yousefi, M., Dao, S., Asgharzadeh, M., Hosseini, H., & Kafil, H. S. (2022). Le Infezioni in Medicina, 30(2), 180-193.

⁶ Young A, Jonski G, Rölla G. (2002). Eur J Oral Sci. 2002 Feb;110(1):31-4.

⁷ Miranda, M.L., Silva, B.N.S., Salomão, K.B., et al. (2020). Biofouling, 36:6, 696-709,

⁸ Belludi SA, Verma S, Banthia R, Bhusari P, Parwani S, Kedia S, Saiprasad SV. (2013). J Contemp Dent Pract. Nov 1;14(6):1054-9.