Based on an oral microbiome analysis, the custom toothpaste features prebiotics, probiotics, and other ingredients designed to optimize the individual user’s oral health.
Image Credit: © Viome
Designed to provide users with a complete oral health solution, VRx MyBiotics Toothpaste & Gel from Viome uses data gathered from the company’s Oral Health Intelligence™ Test to create a customized toothpaste formulation to address each user’s unique oral microbiome and nutrition needs.
“It kind of reinvents this idea of how should you be thinking about caring for your oral health,” Sarah Dorsett, president of Viome’s Consumer Division says in an interview with Dental Products Report. “Oral health care can be a lot better, and we believe that it starts with that understanding of the oral microbiome, the second largest microbiome in your body. And the oral microbiome is connected to chronic disease, so we see this as a part of preventative care, kind of taking health into your own hands, and really helping to prevent these chronic illnesses.”
Described in a press release as a “dual-action deep cleanser and supplement” the toothpaste formula uses ingredients that are safe to ingest and cleans and protects the teeth and gums while benefiting the entire body. Beginning with a simple, at-home saliva test, Viome then uses the information from that test to create a specialized combination of prebiotics, postbiotics, polyphenols, and other beneficial ingredients in the custom toothpaste formula. All of the VRx MyBiotics formulations are free of harsh abrasives, sugar, dioxides, SLS, saccharin, triclosan, sulfates, BPA, phthalates, parabens, and artificial sweeteners or colors.
“We realized the formula actually needed to be a bit more robust to really take care of your oral microbiome and to also be personalized, so there's two formulas. It's brushing your teeth with one toothpaste in the morning, and then brushing your teeth with another one at night. And they're intended to do very specific things,” Dorsett says.
Sunrise Cleanse & Restore Gel is designed for use in the mornings while Nightly Nourish & Protect Toothpaste is designed for use at the end of the day. The morning formula features patented Livfresh Technology and includes Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) and Sodium Tripolyphosphate (STPP) which reportedly shields teeth from plaque-forming microbes and stains. Studies on the gel formula show it removes plaque 250% better than other toothpastes while also reducing gum puffiness by 250%. The nighttime formula is designed with ingredients that are beneficial to both oral and systemic health. It is designed to help remineralize teeth while whitening them without the use of harsh abrasives.
The custom toothpaste is delivered to users in individual unit dosed packages so they are easily able to use the exact right amount of gel and paste each morning and night. This helps eliminate mess and waste while ensuring each user is getting the exact right dose of their customized formula.
“We're kind of giving you this dual-action system that doesn't change your daily routine in any way,” Dorsett says. “It's just personalized specifically for you.”
Getting this new and unique approach to toothpaste out into the world is a big project, Dorsett continues, noting that it’s equally important for Viome to educate dental professionals as well as consumers about this new solution. Consumers need to get a sense that this is something that can work more effectively than what they are using, and dental professionals need to be ready to answer questions their patients ask about VRx MyBiotics Toothpaste & Gel. One of the bigger challenges is getting dental practices to look at the oral microbiome as a part of the standard treatment protocols, and Viome is actively working with practices on pilot projects to help them integrate testing and customized oral care approaches for their patients. Dorsett also highlights a seed program Viome is working on with hygienists to allow them to try the new formulas on their own teeth so they are better prepared to engage with patients about these new, customized toothpaste options.
“This is really a new systemic biology type approach to oral health, and we hope that we can make it really easy for both dentists and consumers to embrace,” Dorsett says.