Oral Microbiome Testing
The oral microbiome is a delicate ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microbes that live in your mouth—on your tongue, cheeks, gums, teeth, and even saliva. This ecosystem is part of your body’s first line of defense. A healthy oral microbiome helps prevent infections, supports your immune system, aids in digestion, and can influence your systemic health far beyond your mouth.
Oral microbiome testing provides critical insight into the balance of bacteria and fungi in the mouth, helping to detect hidden infections, inflammation, and imbalances. I use this test any time a patient is symptomatic. Additionally, I highly recommend this test after a patient has gone through treatment for and head, neck, or throat cancer, as part of his/her survivorship plan.
This test can be done at home by a simple mouth swab and evaluates for a variety of harmful bacteria and fungi that can be found in the mouth. Additionally, it measures the presence of two good flora that are necessary for a healthy oral microbiome. Here’s what’s tested.
Campylobacter rectus
Oral Health: Linked to periodontitis
Overall Health: Promotes systemic inflammation
Cancer: Found in tumor tissues; connected to oral and colorectal cancers
Capnocytophaga gingivalis
Oral Health: Associated with periodontal disease
Overall Health: Can cause bloodstream infections in immunocompromised patients
Cancer: Elevated in oral cancer tissues; linked to oral squamous cell carcinoma
Enterococcus faecalis
Oral Health: Root canal infections
Overall Health: Can cause UTIs, sepsis, endocarditis
Cancer: Produces DNA-damaging toxins; linked to colorectal cancer
Fusobacterium nucleatum
Oral Health: Major contributor to gum disease
Overall Health: Increases systemic inflammation, adverse pregnancy outcomes
Cancer: Strongly linked to colorectal cancer; promotes tumor growth and immune evasion
Parvimonas micra
Oral Health: Associated with periodontal infections
Overall Health: Can cause deep tissue infections (abscesses)
Cancer: Found in oral and gastrointestinal cancers; alters tumor microenvironment
Peptostreptococcus anaerobius
Oral Health: Involved in periodontal disease
Overall Health: Causes soft tissue and systemic infections
Cancer: Triggers inflammatory responses supporting tumor growth; linked to colorectal cancer
Prevotella intermedia
Oral Health: Key in gum disease and oral infections
Overall Health: Associated with arthritis and systemic inflammation
Cancer: Elevated in oral cancers; promotes inflammation and cancer progression
Streptococcus mutans
Oral Health: Causes dental caries (cavities)
Overall Health: May contribute to endocarditis if bloodstream access
Cancer: Produces carcinogenic byproducts like acetaldehyde; involved in oral cancers
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A. actinomycetemcomitans)
Oral Health: Aggressive periodontitis pathogen
Overall Health: Can spread causing tissue damage
Cancer: Produces toxins that damage DNA; linked to cancer initiation
Porphyromonas gingivalis
Oral Health: Major cause of chronic periodontitis
Overall Health: Promotes systemic inflammation and vascular disease
Cancer: Strong link to oral, esophageal, and pancreatic cancers
Tannerella forsythia
Oral Health: Chronic periodontal disease contributor
Overall Health: Systemic inflammation supporter
Cancer: Detected in oral cancer; connected to inflammation-driven carcinogenesis
Treponema denticola
Oral Health: Advanced gum disease; tissue invasion
Overall Health: Can cause systemic infections
Cancer: Enhances cancer cell invasion; found in oral tumors
Staphylococcus aureus
Oral Health: Causes oral infections especially in vulnerable patients
Overall Health: Major source of sepsis, lung infections
Cancer: Produces toxins; worsens tissue damage and complicates cancer recovery
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Oral Health: Opportunistic infections, especially in immunosuppressed
Overall Health: Life-threatening systemic infections
Cancer: Enhances cancer cell survival; common in hospital-acquired infections during cancer care
Acinetobacter species
Oral Health: Rare but can colonize mouth in compromised individuals
Overall Health: Causes serious respiratory and bloodstream infections
Cancer: Worsens prognosis in cancer patients by increasing infection risk
Haemophilus species
Oral Health: Normal flora but some strains can cause disease
Overall Health: Linked to respiratory infections
Cancer: Some strains involved in chronic inflammation, a risk factor for cancer
Candida albicans
Oral Health: Causes oral thrush, especially during immunosuppression
Overall Health: Can cause systemic fungal infections
Cancer: Produces acetaldehyde, a carcinogen; promotes oral and gastrointestinal cancers
Candida species (other than albicans)
Oral Health: Also cause fungal infections and oral thrush
Overall Health: Can lead to invasive candidiasis in cancer patients
Cancer: Associated with oral cancers and systemic fungal complications
Streptococcus salivarius
Oral Health: Beneficial bacteria that supports healthy oral flora
Overall Health: Regulates immunity, prevents harmful pathogen overgrowth
Cancer: Helps maintain mucosal health; may lower inflammation that drives cancer
Lactobacillus species
Oral Health: Protective; reduces caries and gum disease risk
Overall Health: Supports gut, oral, and immune health
Cancer: Some strains produce anti-inflammatory compounds that may lower cancer risk