Gum disease, cavities, and other oral health issues are potential results of letting harmful oral bacteria go unchecked for too long. In the interest of taking a preventive approach to dentistry, Dr. Nawrocki may recommend saliva testing in order to check for the presence of certain kinds of bacteria. If any are found, we can help you figure out the best way to protect your smile! Read on to learn more about saliva testing, and give us a call if you’re ready to schedule an appointment with our team.
What is Saliva Testing?
Saliva testing is a form of preventive dentistry that can be used to identify bacterial pathogens that are known to contribute to oral health issues such as infection and inflammation. We may suggest saliva testing if we have reason to suspect that you currently have or may be at an elevated risk for gum disease. The process takes only seconds of your time, and the results can make a significant difference for the health of your smile in the long term.
How Does It Work?
The saliva testing process consists of three main steps:
- Step 1: Getting the Saliva Sample: You will be given a tube filled with a sterile saline solution. All you need to do is swish the liquid in your mouth for about 15 to 30 second before spitting it into a vial.
- Step 2: Testing the Sample: Our team will send your sample to a specialized lab where the relevant tests will be performed. This often takes around a week and a half.
- Step 3: Sharing the Results: Once we have received the results of your saliva test, we will share them with you as soon as we can. We’ll explain what your harmful bacteria levels look like as well as your risk for various oral health issues. Then we will let you know what your best next steps are.
What are Saliva Testing's Benefits?
Determining your risk for gum disease and cavities is just one of the benefits of saliva testing. It also allows us to check for yeast and fungi, which can potentially encapsulate harmful bacteria and make it harder for your body to target and fight them. On top of that, the test can also be used to screen for active viruses that could be weakening your immune system, thus leaving you more susceptible to gum infection.
Saliva testing helps us develop a full understanding of the environment inside your mouth. This makes it easier for us to create truly effective treatment plans and allows us to address potential problems before they can lead to serious oral health complications.
