Fighting Tooth Decay by Changing the pH of your Mouth

Good dental hygiene and a mouth free from tooth decay can improve your overall health and well-being. Not only does a bright and clean smile make you look better, it also guards against a variety of illnesses and diseases. For this reason, it’s important to pay close attention to your oral health and visit Dr. Jacob Laudie at Summit Dental located in Lee’s Summit, Missouri on a regular basis. One good place to start with your oral hygiene is the pH of your mouth.

The pH level in your mouth can affect the likelihood of having decayed teeth. The pH scale ranges in value from 1 to 14 with 1 being the most acidic and 14 being the least. The lower the pH of your saliva, the higher your chances are of having cavities. For this reason, it’s a good idea to look for ways to increase the pH of your mouth. Aside from increasing the pH, other ways to reduce cavity-causing bacteria include regular dental care and increasing your intake of high alkaline foods.

Excellent food choices to change your pH include fresh fruits and vegetables, even lemons and limes have a high pH. Low pH foods or those that are highly acidic include bread, sodas, beef, pasta and even coffee. Along with choosing the right types of foods, BasicBites are high-tech chews that actually support excellent dental health. These chews are chocolate flavored and sugar-free, and they offer an excellent way to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth without raising the pH of your mouth.

Another product that helps restore your mouth’s pH is Synedent oral rinse. When used after brushing, this mouthwash leaves the teeth and gums feeling fresh and clean. The special formula is made from naturally derived ingredients and is alcohol-free, so it won’t hurt or damage the tissues within your mouth.

The critical pH level in your mouth is 5.5. At a pH of 5.5 and lower, your teeth begin to demineralize. Normal saliva has a pH of around 6.75 and 7.25, so it’s important to find ways to maintain that level. If you want to check your pH and monitor your levels from home, you can purchase pH test strips at most local drugstores or online retailers.