Advanced Saliva Testing for a Deeper Diagnosis.
Your saliva holds powerful clues — our non-invasive DNA saliva test identifies high-risk bacteria linked not only to gum disease but also to heart health, diabetes, and chronic inflammation.
What Saliva Testing Reveals
Your saliva contains valuable information about your oral microbiome — the community of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and inflammation markers that influence your gum health, cavity risk, and overall wellness. Using advanced DNA-based analysis, we identify exactly which microbes are present, how active they are, and whether they’re contributing to inflammation or disease.
This testing goes far deeper than what we can see during a traditional exam. It shows us the true source of bleeding gums, persistent gingivitis, recurrent cavities, bad breath, and infections that don’t respond fully to cleanings alone.
Why It Matters
Most oral diseases begin at the microbial level. When harmful bacteria outnumber the beneficial species, it can lead to:
Gum inflammation and bleeding
Bone loss around teeth
Tooth decay
Bad breath
Chronic gum infections
Elevated oral–systemic health risks
Certain bacteria found in saliva are linked in research to heart disease, diabetes, chronic inflammation, and other systemic conditions. By understanding your unique bacterial profile, we can treat disease more precisely — and prevent it earlier.
What the Test Measures
Our saliva testing panel evaluates:
Periodontal pathogens (red complex, orange complex bacteria)
Cavity-causing bacteria
Viral and fungal markers
Microbial diversity and imbalance
Bacteria that are resistant to standard cleanings
How the Test Works
Completely non-invasive
Takes less than two minutes
No needles, no discomfort
Results return in about a week
We review your report together and create a personalized plan to rebalance your oral microbiome
Who Benefits Most
Patients with bleeding gums or chronic gingivitis
Anyone with new or recurring cavities
Patients with dry mouth
Patients on multiple medications
People with systemic health concerns
Anyone who wants a deeper, preventive, wellness-focused approach to dental care
Below is an overview of several high-risk oral microorganisms commonly identified through saliva testing. These bacteria play a major role in gum inflammation, bone loss, and the oral-systemic connection—including cardiovascular, immune, and metabolic health. Understanding them helps us create a precise, personalized treatment plan for long-term wellness.
Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn)
Why it matters:
Fn is strongly associated with gum disease, but it also has the rare ability to travel through the bloodstream and colonize distant tissues. Research links Fn to:
GI inflammation
Irritable bowel patterns
Disruption of gut microbiome balance
Colorectal cancer progression and metastasis
Fn acts like a “bridge” species, allowing other harmful microbes to invade deeper tissues.
Finding elevated Fn in saliva tells us inflammation is not just local — it may be affecting gut health too.
Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg)
Why it matters:
Porphyromonas gingivalis is considered one of the most dangerous bacteria in the mouth. Known as a “master pathogen,” Pg can suppress the immune system, disrupt healthy biofilm, and trigger chronic inflammation. It produces toxic enzymes called gingipains, which break down gum tissue and can enter the bloodstream.
Research links Pg to:
Cardiovascular disease — contributes to arterial plaque formation
Alzheimer’s disease — Pg DNA and gingipains found in brain tissue
Insulin resistance & Type 2 diabetes
Rheumatoid arthritis — can trigger anti-citrullinated protein antibodies
Treponema denticola (Td)
Why it matters:
Treponema denticola is a highly invasive spirochete bacterium closely associated with advanced periodontal disease. Its corkscrew shape allows it to burrow deeply into gum tissue, disrupt cell function, and spread inflammation far beyond the surface biofilm. Td is frequently found alongside Pg and Tf, forming a powerful trio known as the Red Complex.
Research links Td to:
Advanced periodontal destruction — accelerates bone loss and tissue breakdown
Deep-pocket inflammation — penetrates into areas that ordinary cleanings cannot reach
Systemic inflammatory burden — stimulates immune responses that affect whole-body health
Cardiovascular implications — detected in arterial plaques in some studies
Increased pathogenic synergy — especially when combined with Pg, making both bacteria more destructive
Td’s ability to invade tissue, hide from the immune system, and work synergistically with other pathogens makes it a significant marker of active periodontal disease. Identifying Td through saliva testing helps us create a targeted plan to reduce inflammation, disrupt harmful biofilm, and support a healthier oral–systemic balance.
Tannerella forsythia (Tf)
Why it matters:
Tannerella forsythia is a key member of the Red Complex, the trio of periodontal pathogens most strongly associated with severe gum disease and tissue destruction. Tf produces potent virulence factors — including BspA proteins — that trigger chronic inflammation, weaken gum attachment, and accelerate bone loss.
Research links Tf to:
Rapid periodontal breakdown — contributes to deep pockets and recession
Bone loss around teeth — works synergistically with Pg and Td
Systemic inflammation — associated with elevated cytokines in the bloodstream
Cardiovascular implications — detected in arterial plaque samples
Respiratory complications — found in aspirated biofilms in medically vulnerable patients
Pregnancy-associated risks — tied to preterm birth and low birth weight in some studies
Tf is also known for its ability to evade the immune system, allowing it to persist even when symptoms seem mild. Elevated Tf on your saliva test indicates a more aggressive form of periodontal disease that requires targeted, precision-based treatment.
Identifying Tf early helps us interrupt the inflammatory cycle, prevent long-term tissue loss, and protect your whole-body health.
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A.a.)
Why it matters:
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans — often shortened to A.a. — is one of the most aggressive oral pathogens detected in saliva testing. A.a. produces a potent leukotoxin, a chemical that can damage immune cells and accelerate tissue destruction. Because of its ability to trigger rapid bone loss, A.a. is strongly associated with aggressive periodontitis, especially in younger individuals.
Research links A.a. to:
Rapid and severe periodontal breakdown — often faster than other bacteria
Significant bone loss around teeth — even when symptoms appear mild
Endothelial dysfunction — contributes to changes in blood vessel health
Cardiovascular risk — detected in arterial plaque in multiple studies
Joint inflammation — can stimulate autoimmune-like reactions
Difficult-to-control infections — due to its immune-evasive behavior
Because A.a. can hide deep within tissues and resist the body’s natural defenses, elevated levels signal the need for targeted, early intervention. Identifying A.a. with a saliva test allows us to design precise, science-based treatment strategies to protect gum health, slow or prevent bone loss, and reduce systemic inflammatory risk.