Saliva, pH and acidity. Why you should know your saliva pH.

Protecting Your Smile from Acidic Foods and Drinks

Sugar isn’t the only thing in your diet that can harm your teeth. Eating or drinking acidic foods and beverages can erode the enamel, the protective layer on your teeth. This process, known as tooth erosion, can quickly alter the look of your teeth and lead to cavities and decay.

To help balance the pH in your mouth, consider these seven tips. By making your saliva more alkaline and less acidic, you'll improve your oral health.

The Importance of Regulating Your Mouth’s pH
The pH scale ranges from 1 (most acidic) to 14 (most alkaline). Several factors can make your saliva more acidic, and when its pH drops below 7, your teeth are at risk. Acidic saliva often leads to acid erosion, which can cause enamel loss, tooth decay, and cavities.

Tooth erosion is irreversible; once enamel wears away, it cannot be restored. Enamel erosion can result in:

Sensitivity or pain when eating or drinking hot or cold foods
Yellowing of the tooth surface
Rough spots on teeth that used to be smooth
A higher risk of cavities
Potential tooth loss in severe cases
Emphasize a High-Alkaline Diet
One of the easiest ways to influence your saliva’s pH is by paying attention to what you eat and drink.

The more alkaline your saliva is, the better your oral health will be. A pH level of 7.5 or higher helps remineralize enamel and combat cavity-causing bacteria. By reducing acidic foods and consuming more alkaline-rich options, you can raise your saliva’s pH and improve your dental health.

Eat More Vegetables
Eating more vegetables benefits both your dental and overall health. Many vegetables are alkaline and can help neutralize the pH in your saliva.

Consider adding these vegetables to your diet for a healthier mouth and body:

Broccoli
Kale
Asparagus
Spinach
Green beans
Red bell peppers
Cut Back on Bread and Sugar
An easy way to make your diet more alkaline is to limit bread and sugary treats. Carbohydrates quickly turn into sugars or starches during digestion, lowering your pH and making your saliva more acidic.

Avoid Artificial Sweeteners
While artificial sweeteners can be used in moderation, some are more acidic than others. Xylitol, beet sugar, and honey are all acidic. Instead, opt for Stevia to help maintain an alkaline pH in your saliva.

Reduce Alcohol and Caffeine Consumption
Alcoholic beverages and caffeinated drinks tend to be acidic. Cutting back on wine and limiting yourself to one cup of coffee in the morning are simple ways to keep your saliva's pH more alkaline. Reducing your intake of these drinks is a good first step toward balancing your saliva's pH. Understanding Saliva pH and Its Importance
Saliva pH and Balance

Saliva with a pH level between 6.2 and 7.6 is ideal for keeping your mouth healthy and protecting your teeth.

What Does pH Mean?

The term pH refers to "potential hydrogen," which measures how acidic or alkaline a substance is. A pH of 14 is the most alkaline, while a pH of 0 is the most acidic. Pure water has a neutral pH of 7. For instance, substances like black coffee and vinegar are acidic with a pH below 7, while seawater and antacids are alkaline with a pH above 7. Human blood, with a pH slightly above 7, is mildly alkaline.

Saliva's Normal pH Range

Typically, saliva has a pH range of 6.2 to 7.6. However, this can fluctuate depending on what you eat or drink. For example, bacteria in the mouth break down carbohydrates, producing acids like lactic, butyric, and aspartic acid, which lower saliva's pH. Additionally, age can affect saliva pH, with adults generally having more acidic saliva than children.

Understanding pH Balance in the Body

The human body is about 60% water and requires a pH close to that of water to function properly.

Low pH (Acidic): When blood pH is too low (acidic), it can lead to metabolic acidosis, which is linked to high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes, and other health issues.

High pH (Alkaline): When blood pH is too high (alkaline), it can cause metabolic alkalosis, associated with conditions like adrenal disease and excessive alcohol consumption.

Why Saliva pH Matters

Maintaining a balanced pH in your mouth is crucial. Drinking acidic beverages can lower your saliva's pH below 5.5, leading to the demineralization of tooth enamel. If the enamel wears down too much, it can expose the dentin, causing sensitivity to hot, cold, or sugary drinks.

Examples of acidic foods and drinks include:

Soft drinks (pH 3)
White wine (pH 4)
American cheese (pH 5)
Cherries (pH 4)
Signs of Imbalanced Saliva pH

Symptoms that your saliva pH might be off include:

Chronic bad breath
Sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks
Tooth decay
How to Test Saliva pH

To check your saliva's pH, use pH strips available at pharmacies or online. Here's how:

Avoid eating or drinking for at least two hours before testing.
Gather saliva in your mouth and then swallow or spit it out.
Collect more saliva and apply a small amount to the pH strip.
Compare the strip's color to the chart provided to determine your saliva's pH.
Maintaining a Balanced Mouth pH

To keep your mouth's pH balanced, you don't have to avoid all acidic foods and drinks. Instead, you can adjust your habits:

Limit sugary soft drinks. If you indulge, drink quickly and follow with water.
Skip black coffee or add dairy (not sugary creamers) to reduce acidity.
Avoid brushing your teeth immediately after consuming acidic drinks, as this can damage softened enamel.
Chew sugarless gum with xylitol after acidic foods or drinks to boost saliva production and restore pH balance.
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water with a pH of 7.
Saliva pH as a Diagnostic Tool

Research from 2013 suggests that saliva pH can serve as a diagnostic biomarker. The study found that saliva pH varies with the severity of periodontal disease.

Chase Thomas, DDS is a general and cosmetic dentist in Royal Palm Beach. The practice offers teeth cleanings in Royal Palm Beach a and provides patients with all cosmetic and general procedures. If you are looking for an emergency dentist in Royal Palm Beach then visit us at https://royalpalm.makingawesomesmiles.com/emergency-dentist-royal-palm-beach.php