About Oral pH
Understanding pH
pH is the scale used to measure how acidic or alkaline a substance is. The pH of fluids circulating in the human body (including the saliva in your mouth) register in a narrow pH range. For instance, the pH of blood should be approximately 7.3 (slightly alkaline) while healthy saliva should register 7.0 (neutral). pH levels of body fluids above 7.0 (alkaline) indicate an oxygen-rich environment, which is an ideal state for good health. pH levels of body fluids below 7.0 (acidic) indicate an oxygen-deprived environment, which primes our bodies and our teeth for unwanted health conditions.
For total health, it is important to alkalize your body. Doing this will not only benefit your overall health, but will also help alkalize saliva for additional mouth and tooth protection.
Understanding Oral pH
A healthy mouth is a neutral or alkaline mouth with a pH 7.0 or above. Teeth actually become stronger and re-mineralize when the mouth is alkaline at a pH 7.5 or above.
The effects of stress, hormonal changes, pregnancy, illness, sleep deprivation, and poor nutrition contribute to saliva's acidity. All foods and drinks alter mouth pH, ranging from the strong acidity of citrus fruits and wines (pH 2.2 or lower) to the alkalinity of chicken soup and salty nuts (pH 8.5 or higher). As we digest foods, their by-products and nutrients are absorbed into our bodies. Not all foods provide beneficial nutrients; some create acidic by-products that work against us. Most experts agree that we need at least 80% of our daily foods to be the types that help us maintain a neutral or alkaline body pH.
Oral health issues are worse when people sip drinks or nibble acidic foods without taking breaks. Tooth roots begin to dissolve as pH falls below 6.5. When acidity levels dip to pH 5.5, teeth will erode, become discolored, and be at risk for dental issues. All acidity weakens teeth, but it is the amount of time that acids are in contact with teeth that determines the severity.
Regardless of one's health, natural fluctuations in pH and flow rate (diurnal variation) also occur throughout the day like a rhythm. Saliva is least protective at night and in the early morning hours, and it is most alkaline and protective in the afternoon.
It is important to take steps to improve oral pH by alkalizing your mouth as much as possible to protect teeth. You can use pH Testing Paper to monitor your saliva's pH throughout the day before and after drinking and eating. And then you can take the necessary steps to improve your oral pH, such as having xylitol after eating and drinking because it immediately changes mouth pH by stimulating mineral-rich saliva.
We encourage you to test your pH before having a xylitol mint or gum, and then test again after. You will see the difference for yourself!
Testing Oral pH
Zellie's sells Hydrion pH Paper Dispensers, which provides an easy-to-read, single-color match that matches at every .2 to .3 interval from pH 5.5-8.0. Each roll provides for approximately 100 tests.
Steps to Use Oral pH Testing Paper
- Pull off a small strip (approximately 1-2 inches)
- Thoroughly moisten it with saliva (either by placing the strip on your tongue or spitting saliva into a spoon and dipping the strip in it)
- After a few seconds, the strip will change colors
- Compare the resulting color with the matching pH color chart to determine your saliva's pH level. A pH over 7.0 is alkaline.
Continue learning about saliva here: The Importance of Saliva
Continue learning about Mouth Resting: Mouth Resting