The science, in plain terms
What your Balance Test actually measures.
Your Balance Test reads the bacteria in your saliva and turns them into a few simple scores. Here's what each one means — in plain language, no biology degree required.
The big idea
A healthy mouth is a balance.
Your mouth is home to hundreds of kinds of bacteria. Most are helpful. A few cause trouble. Good oral health isn't about having zero "bad" bacteria — it's about keeping the helpful ones in charge.
The Balance Test looks at both sides: the bacteria that protect your mouth, and the ones that push it toward cavities and gum disease. Then it weighs one against the other — so you can see where you stand, and what to do about it.
What the test reads
Sixteen bacteria, two teams.
Every bacterium the test looks for is doing one of two things — helping keep your mouth stable, or pushing it out of balance.
The helpers
Friendly bacteria that keep your mouth steady and crowd out the troublemakers — including a special group that supports your whole body's health (more on them below).
The troublemakers
The bacteria behind gum disease and cavities — plus a common yeast that can overgrow when the balance tips. Some are worse together than alone, which is why patterns matter.
Your scores
One main score, four that explain it.
Your report turns all of that into a few simple numbers. One headline score tells you where you stand overall; four more show you why.
Your Balance Score
A single number from 0 to 100 for how healthy your oral balance is overall — the higher, the better. It blends everything below into one easy readout you can watch change over time as you take care of your mouth.
Protective Score
Higher is betterHow strong your helpful bacteria are at keeping your mouth stable and bouncing back.
Disruptive Score
Lower is betterHow much pressure the troublemaker bacteria are putting on your mouth — and which one is the biggest.
Nitric Oxide Score
Higher is betterA special group of helpful bacteria that support healthy blood flow for your whole body — not just your mouth.
Gum Disease Risk
1–5A simple 1-to-5 rating of your gum-disease risk, based on which bacteria show up together.
Why your mouth matters to the rest of you
Some of your good bacteria help your whole body.
A special group of helpful bacteria turn nitrate — from foods like leafy greens and beets — into something your body uses to keep blood flowing smoothly.
When these bacteria are thriving, they support healthy circulation well beyond your mouth. When they're running low, you lose some of that natural support. Your Nitric Oxide Score shows how well this part of your mouth is working — and a simple change, like eating more leafy greens, can help it along.
Your gum-disease risk, 1 to 5
It's about which bacteria show up together.
Gum disease isn't driven by one bug — it's driven by certain bacteria teaming up. Your 1-to-5 rating reflects that pattern, from a calm, healthy mouth to one that needs attention soon.
One honest note
We don't diagnose disease. We measure the bacteria linked to it.
The Balance Test measures the bacteria in your saliva — that's all it does. It doesn't diagnose cavities, gum disease, or any other condition, and it can't tell you whether you have one or will develop one. What your report shows are findings research has linked to those conditions. They're meant to be read by a dental professional alongside an exam and your history — not acted on by themselves. Bring your report to your next appointment and go through it with your dentist.
Ready to look under the hood?
See your own balance.
One simple saliva sample, collected at home — and a report you can actually read.