About Oral pH
Understanding Oral pH
pH is a scale that measures how acidic or alkaline a substance is. In the mouth, pH naturally rises and falls throughout the day based on factors like eating, drinking, and normal variations in saliva flow.
Why Oral pH Matters
Saliva plays an important role in helping maintain a balanced environment in the mouth. When oral pH is closer to neutral (around 7.0), saliva can help support the natural processes that help protect tooth surfaces. When the oral environment becomes more acidic, teeth may be exposed to conditions that aren’t ideal for enamel.
Factors Affecting Oral pH
Oral pH varies among individuals and throughout the day. Contributing factors can include:
- Dietary intake (particularly acidic foods and beverages)
- Saliva flow rate
- Hydration status
- Medications
Small habits, such as frequent sipping, can keep your mouth acidic longer than you may realize.
How Xylitol Helps Support a Balanced Mouth
One simple way to help your mouth recover after eating is to encourage saliva flow. This is where xylitol comes in. Enjoying xylitol after meals or drinks helps boost saliva, which supports your mouth’s natural ability to return to a more neutral pH.
This is one reason many people reach for Zellie’s mints or gum after eating. They offer a refreshing boost of xylitol that supports your mouth’s natural balance.
Other Steps to Improve Oral pH
Dr. Ellie recommends mouth resting, where you have xylitol and take a break from drinking or eating for 60-90 minutes, which allows time for the xylitol to stimulate mineral-rich saliva to help strengthen the tooth enamel, maintain healthy mouth pH, loosen hardened build-up from the surface of the tooth, and promote healthy bacteria to multiply. The goal is to have 6-10 grams of xylitol daily followed by mouth resting.
Curious About Your Own Oral pH?
Many people like to test their saliva’s pH to see how their mouth responds to different foods or snacks. Testing before and after eating—or before and after enjoying Zellie's—can help you learn how your mouth pH changes throughout the day. Hydrion pH Testing Paper makes it easy.
To learn more about using the pH strips, please visit: Hydrion Oral pH Testing Paper