TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
One: Microbes in Every Mouth
The Germ Theory
The Dawning of the Probiotic Era
The Anti-Microbial Mouth
How Do Bacteria Become Resistant?
Foodborne Illness
Microorganism Mania
How Many Bacteria Does it Take to Get Sick?
Two: The Oral Immune System
The Non-specific Immune System
Humoral Immune Response
Cell-Mediated Immune Response
The Probiotic Immune Response
Oral and Nasal Immunity
Stimulating the Oral Immune System
Digestive Immunity
Immune Colonization
Three: The Probiotic Gatekeepers
Probiotic Inoculation
Housing the Resident Strains
Territorial Behavior
Four: Oral Probiotics and Disease
Summary of Probiotic Mechanisms
Oral Cavity Probiotic Research
Periodontal Disease and Dental Caries
Bacterial Infections
Allergies
Intestinal Permeability
Ulcers
Vaginosis and Vaginitis
Candida Infections
Baby Colic
Ear Infections
Anorexia Nervosa
Keratoconjunctivitis
Viral Infections
Halitosis (Bad Breath)
Respiratory Infections
Rebuilding the Immune System
Five: Meet Your Oral Bacteria
Species and Strains
The Bad and Not So Bad Guys
Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans
Actinomyces sp.
Clostridium sp.
Corynebacterium sp.
Entamoeba gingivalis
Enterococcus faecalis (formerly Streptococcus faecalis)
Escherichia coli and other Enterobacteriaceae
Haemophilus sp.
Helicobacter pylori
Mycoplasmas
Neisseria meningitides
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus epidermidis
Streptococcus mitis
Streptococcus pyrogenes
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Streptococcus mutans
Treponema Denticola
The Good Guys
Probiotic Streptococci
Streptococcus salivarius
Streptococcus thermophilus
The Lactobacilli
Lactobacillus salivarius
Lactobacillus reuteri
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Lactobacillus helveticus
Lactobacillus casei
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Lactobacillus plantarum
Lactobacillus bulgaricus
Lactobacillus brevis
Six: Oral Probiotic Supplements
Oral Probiotic Supplement Options
Dosage Considerations
Oral Flora Residents
Probiotic Nourishment: Prebiotics
The Probiotic-Friendly Diet
Probiotic Hydration
Probiotic Foods
Seven: Probiotic Oral Hygiene
Problems with Gum Disease
How to Reduce Our Risk of Periodontal Disease
The Healthy Oral Regimen
Probiotic Night Owls
In Conclusion
References and Bibliography
Index