Mouth Resting (Stop Frequent Eating/Sipping Liquids)
What It Is
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 enamel, neutralize acidity, loosen plaque-forming bacteria 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."
Steps
- Take break from eating or drinking (including water)
- Enjoy 1-2 grams of xylitol mints or gum
- For gum, chew no more than 10 minutes
- Wait at least 30 minutes – preferably 60-90 minutes – before resuming drinking or eating
- Repeat throughout day, aiming for at least 3 times
Mouth Resting Purpose
You dilute your saliva with continuous drinking or eating (including water), which in turn diminishes the very important protective benefits of saliva. An adequate flow of saliva is essential for oral health, and the protection it offers is the result of the many component ingredients it contains that work together to keep our mouth in perfect harmony.
Saliva Quality Changes
The overall quality of our saliva naturally ebbs and flows almost every hour of every day. In the morning hours, saliva can be somewhat more acidic—but after midday, most people find that their saliva is a higher pH (less acidic) and more healing. It is important to stop snacking and sipping during the time when you have quality saliva in your mouth.
Saliva pH
Some of the most dramatic changes in saliva’s pH occur when we eat or drink (including water). Many foods and beverages reduce our mouth to a low pH (acidic) of around 5 or 6, and sometimes as low as 2 to 4. Whenever the mouth's acidity level falls below 6, every tooth surface is at risk for mineral loss. Plaque-forming bacteria also gain momentum in acidic mouth conditions and will use this pH to their benefit and form thick layers on tooth surfaces.
Result of Diluted Saliva
This means that all meals, snacks, and drinks—even a sip of water—will change the composition of our saliva and potentially disable its healing quality. Any drop in the mouth’s pH levels will also pull minerals from tooth surfaces. As a result, any lingering or prolonged periods of acidity will likely promote negative changes in the health of our tooth enamel and encourage less beneficial bacteria to populate our mouth.