If your child struggles with cavities, you're not alone
Understand your child’s oral health and risk for cavities from a single saliva sample.
5,000+ trusted mouths
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We have a children's cavity epidemic
Cavities, also known as dental caries, are an infectious and chronic disease. Cavities are caused by specific bacteria in saliva, that when present, can be passed from person to person, via kissing, sharing food or, simply living in the same environment.
80%
of children by their teen years have had a cavity.
51%
of children 6-11 years old suffer from tooth decay in the U.S.
You feel like you're doing everything right, but your child still suffers from cavities.
They're brushing. They're flossing. They're eating healthy.
And, of course they're seeing the dentist, yet they have 1, 2, 3 even 7+ cavities at the end of each visit.
You're doing everything to give your child a healthy future. You don't want your child to suffer physical pain or emotional trauma.
You need to get to the root cause.
Bristle's Oral Health Test helps you understand your child’s risk for cavities and oral health issues.
With a small, painless saliva sample, our at-home test measures 700+ bacteria and fungi to detect oral health issues, like cavities before they become a problem.
Better oral health is as easy as 1, 2, 3
Easy At-Home Testing
Delivered to your door in 2-3 business days, just spit, shake, and sent your sample to the lab in a convenient prepaid envelope.
Secure Lab Processing
Results are analyzed in a CLIA certified U.S. laboratory to ensure accuracy, validity, and confidentiality.
1:1 Coaching & Support
Our registered dental hygienists interpret your result, provide personalized coaching, and a specific action plan.
Get better oral care for your child, based on their biology
Good oral health takes more than brushing and flossing. We help you understand the balance of good and bad bacteria present in your child's saliva and give actionable steps to improve their health.
We go way beyond the same advice you constantly hear and take a holistic approach to improving oral health at the biological level. Your custom recommendations are researched, vetted, and curated by our team.
Join 5,000+ Happy Mouths
Children's Oral Health Test
Designed for children 3+ years, our at-home test measures the levels of good & bad bacteria related to your child's oral health. Get a custom plan plus 1:1 coaching. Backed by leading dentists.
See what you can accomplish with every test from Bristle
Identify & measure 100+ bacteria & fungi that make up your oral microbiome.
Understand your oral health & risk for conditions.
Get a custom action plan including diet, hygiene & product recommendations.
Access exclusive discounts on oral care products.
Trusted by leading dental clinics
Healthy Mouths. Healthy Families. Healthy Future.
Good health starts with a healthy mouth
The oral microbiome is the complex ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, and more that lives inside your mouth. Some keep our teeth and gums healthy, while others cause damage and cause conditions like bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease.
The latest research has also linked the oral microbiome to conditions like heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes.
Your oral microbiome is the foundation of your oral health. We help you identify and eliminate the harmful bacteria in your mouth to improve your oral and overall health.
The Oral Microbiome Is Shared Within the Family
Maybe you or your partner suffer from oral health issues and one of your children do too. There could be a connection!
In children, oral microbiome formation is influenced by the transmission of bacteria (good and bad) from parents and their environment. Research links similarities between the oral microbiomes of mothers and those of their children, particularly early in life.
Developed in collaboration with leading dentists
Dr. Mark Burhenne
Functional Dentist & Founder of Askthedentist.com
“If you make one investment in your health this entire year, let this be it. The mouth is the gateway to your body and oral bacteria have been associated with a higher risk for systemic conditions including Alzheimer’s, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and poor pregnancy outcomes.
You can’t be healthy without a healthy mouth. And what you don’t measure, you cannot manage.”
What does the Bristle test look for?
Bristle profiles your complete oral microbiome - the makeup of 700+ bacteria and fungi in your mouth. Our test is the most comprehensive available and identifies all microbes present in your oral microbiome.
Some of these species are beneficial to our health, while others are harmful and can cause conditions like halitosis, tooth decay, gum inflammation, and more. By analyzing the identity and relative abundance of microbes in your saliva, Bristle detects the root cause of oral symptoms and connections to other chronic conditions. We also provide scientifically-backed product, diet, and lifestyle recommendations based on your unique oral microbiome.
How old does my child need to be to take the test?
Our test is recommended for children age 3+ and does require the ability to spit into a small vial for sample collection.
Does Bristle analyze my child’s DNA?
No not at all. We use deep-shotgun metagenomics sequencing, the gold standard to get a comprehensive analysis you can rely on to make informed decisions. This method looks at the bacteria and fungi present in the saliva sample.
Additionally, our business model doesn't involve selling data for profit and everything you share with us is strictly confidential. Our full privacy policy can be found here.
Does oral microbiome testing show more than just cavity risk?
Yes, you'll learn about more than just cavity risk. We offer the most advanced and comprehensive oral microbiome test available and will show the breakdown of your good bacteria levels as well. On average we identify 100+ bacterial species per sample. Bristle is also the only test that detects bacteria and fungi from a single saliva sample.
What causes cavities in kids?
Cavity-causing bacteria can be transmitted to children through saliva. Often, these bacteria are transmitted to children from their mothers, but anyone can transmit the bacteria, including other children. The more frequently a child’s mouth comes into contact with saliva containing cavity-causing bacteria, the more likely it is that harmful bacteria will colonize the child’s mouth. And if cavity-causing bacteria colonize the child’s mouth, the child is more likely to develop cavities. Select microbes cause cavities. Bristle Health’s at-home test identifies these microbes so you know how to prevent cavities in kids.
Can I share my results with my dentist?
Yes! We encourage you to share your results with your dentist and anyone else involved with your health. You can print or share your results directly from your account.
Can I use HSA/FSA for payment?
Bristle tests are eligible for reimbursement by most FSA and HSA plans. Since every plan is different, we advise that you check with your plan to confirm that the Bristle test is eligible. Contact us at support@bristlehealth.com to obtain an itemized receipt.
Is Bristle CLIA compliant?
Yes! Bristle tests are analyzed in a U.S. laboratory that is certified by Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) standards. A CLIA certified lab must meet strict quality standards and ensure both the accuracy and validity of your results.
When science and care, team up - EVERY child wins!
At Bristle Health, we're not just about testing, we're about nurturing, understanding, and promoting long-term oral health.