How to Measure the Microbes in Your Mouth

Everyone's mouth contains millions of microbes, but a higher amount than normal is linked to halitosis, gum disease and heart disease. In a study conducted by the University of Buffalo's School of Dental Medicine, researchers found that higher numbers of oral pathogens, regardless of type, are linked to higher rates of heart attack. You can use agar and a petri dish to monitor the microbes in your own mouth.

Things You'll Need

• Petri dish (a regular bowl will work, too)
• Agar
• Water
• Plastic wrap
• Cotton swab
• Mouth wash

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Instructions

• 1

  Heat 1/4 cup water over the stove and stir in 1/2 teaspoon agar.

• 2

  Bring this mixture to a boil for one minute, until the agar is completely dissolved.

• 3

  Fill your dish with the agar solution, cover with plastic wrap or the top half of your Petri dish, and allow it to cool and harden.

• 4

  Rub a clean cotton swab in your mouth, along the gum line.

• 5

  Uncover your agar gel and lightly draw a squiggle on the top of the agar with your cotton swab.

• 6

  Place the container in a warm place to allow it to grow. The next day, you should see a variety of mold, bacterial and fungal growth.

• 7

  Run the test again after using bacteria-killing products such as mouthwash to see how it affects the amount of microbes in your mouth.

• 8

  Run the test on friends and family members to see where you stand on the oral microbe spectrum.