Lifestyle

This Oral Health Intelligence Test Revealed More Than I Expected

I always thought I was having quite good oral health. I cleaned my teeth twice a day, brushed my teeth with floss (most of the time) and attended regular check-ups. However, after finding the Viome Oral Health Intelligence Test, I felt curious. Would a home-based test tell me anything significant about my mouth?

I knew that I would get superficial information at best. Instead, I received a complete, scientific analysis of my oral microbiome, and the information no dentist ever explained to me. This test did not only enlighten me; it changed my entire approach to the way I look after my mouth.

The Real Oral Health Intelligence Test

The Oral Health Intelligence Test by Viome is a saliva test that can be performed at home and that serves to analyse your oral microbiome, the community of bacteria, fungi and other microbes inhabiting your mouth. However, rather than merely counting the bacteria, the test measures their activity and gene activity, providing a better insight into what is really occurring.

Oral Health Intelligenc Test
Image Source: Viome

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How to Use

The test is very simple and easy to use as a beginner. Here’s exactly how I did it:

1. Order the Kit

I have placed an order through their site.

2. Register the Test

I used the QR code to create an account in the Viome app. It took less than a minute.

3. Collect the Saliva Sample

Surprisingly, this was easy and did not require invasive swabs or involved complex procedures. Just:

No lunch or dinner in a couple of hours.
Spit into the tube
Seal it
Done in under 5 minutes.

4. Mail It Back

The box comes with a prepaid postage, therefore, I did not need to do any printing.

5. Wait for Results

I received my results in the app within a little more than two weeks.

What the Test Discovered

The dashboard provided me with a complete oral health summary, and the descriptions were clearly stated in everyday language.

The following is what was noteworthy in my report:

My microbial diversity was low and was associated with inflammation and sensitivity of gums.
Some of the bacteria associated with bad breath were more active than they ought to, despite the fact that I did not experience significant problems with my breath.
My oral pH was not balanced and this predisposes long term risk of enamel erosion.
Some of the foods that I consumed every day were even nourishing bad bacteria.

Individual Oral Care and Food Recommendations

To begin with, my oral microbiome was analyzed in order to give me specific food recommendations. The app provided categories of foods such as superfoods, foods to enjoy, foods to minimize and foods to avoid. This contrasts with the generic advice in that these recommendations were specific to the types of microbes that inhabited my mouth and this assisted me to make choices that actually favor oral health.

Besides food instructions, the test supplied individual oral biotics and probiotics. The findings of my results were accompanied with the recommendations of prebiotics to feed the good bacteria, probiotics to assist in balancing the pH of the mouth, and the postbiotics to decrease the activity of harmful microbes.

How It Actually Helped Me

After 3-4 weeks of adhering to the plan, I began to feel the actual improvements:

It seemed my breath was fresher that day.
My gums weren’t as sensitive
I felt that my mouth was clean hours after brushing.
In the morning I was not so dry.
Generally, my routine of oral care was more deliberate.

The biggest difference? My dentist observed that my gum health was better when I went to the dentist the next time without telling her about the test.

The largest reasons I believe the Oral Health Intelligence Test is worth using after trying it are:

You can identify undetermined problems well before they become something.
You receive targeted information, and not toothbrush-and-floss common sense.
You have knowledge of your oral state in a biological way.
The findings contribute to the informed changes in lifestyle.
It is easy, homely and all at home.

In case you are a person concerned about getting the most out of your health, then this test provides you with that sort of clarity that can be gained through brushing alone.

Final Verdict

The Oral Health Intelligence Test did not only inform me about my oral health but was also informative in the most personalized, scientific and practical manner. I was going in with the anticipation of a simple test. I walked away with a plan of how to have healthier gums, fresher breath, and a better understanding of what is going on with my mouth.