MyMicrobiome Standard 43.10 – Oral microbiome

Bacteria settle in the oral mucosa, on the teeth and on the tongue. Each area is its own ecosystem with its own distinctive diversity.

Among other things, we test products for everyday use here, such as the bristles of the toothbrush, dental floss or dental care sticks. Medical wound dressings, which are mostly used after dental surgery, are also tested with the 43.10 standard.

The MyMicrobiome Standard 43.10 has defined five key microbes, all of which are streptococci:

Streptococcus mitis

Streptococcus sanguinis

Streptococcus mutans

Streptococcus salivarius

Streptococcus anginosus

The test procedure for Standard 43.10 oral microbiome

The textile product undergoes four test phases as part of the "Microbiome-friendly" certification.

1. Washing and Sterilization

All textiles are washed in our laboratory according to a standardized procedure and then steam sterilized (autoclaved).
Hygienic products will be sterilized by means of UV light.

2. Balance test

Co-cultures are grown from the most common oral microbe, S. sanguinis, and the harmful bacterium, E. faecalis. A co-culture is exposed to the product to be tested and any change in the ratio of the two microbes is compared to an untreated control group. The ratio of the two dominant microbes must not be disturbed under the influence of the product in order to maintain the balance of the microbiome.

3. Diversity test

The microbes mentioned above for the oral microbiome are cultured in the lab. A co-culture is exposed to the product to be tested and the change in diversity compared to the untreated control group. For a balanced oral microbiome, the diversity of the most important key microbes must be preserved.

4. Vitality test

The test is performed on a skin contact model. Each key bacteria is brought into direct contact with the product. In a second approach, the microbes are covered with an agar layer and the product to be tested is applied afterwards. The agar layer simulates the skin's natural protective layer and the test simulates the potential penetration of the product into deeper layers of the skin. As always, the microbial growth of the two batches is compared with the untreated control group; growth must not be significantly influenced.