Many factors can determine which foods you purchase from the grocery store and what type of meals you make for yourself or your family. Whether your priorities are cost, preparation time, taste, or calories, another factor you should consider is the food’s level of pH.
Low-level pH foods not only negatively affect your general health, but they can be incredibly damaging to your teeth.
The easiest way to re-balance the pH in your saliva is to incorporate these foods into your diet.
The pH level of your mouth impacts your overall health. The pH scale starts at 1 for being the most acidic and ends at 14, being the most alkaline. To determine your saliva pH, you can use an at-home hydration pH test. Your saliva should be tested in the morning before eating or drinking anything for the most accurate results.
Various factors cause acidic pH levels in your saliva, and an acidic saliva pH level lower than 7 can result in significant damage to your teeth. Acidic saliva often leads to one suffering from acid erosion, which can ultimately lead to enamel loss, tooth decay, and cavities.
Ideally, the more alkaline you can make your saliva, the better your oral health will be. Alkaline pH levels in the mouth of 7.5 or higher will help to remineralize enamel and fight against cavity-causing bacteria. By limiting the acidic foods in your diet and eating foods that are high in alkaline properties, you can increase your saliva pH level and improve your mouth health, too.
Eating a diet high in alkaline is a great place to start when striving to achieve a balanced pH environment in your mouth. Eliminating acidic saliva in your mouth can be easily achieved by focusing on eating the following foods and applying a few other oral health tips.
Eating more vegetables is excellent for both your dental and overall health. Many vegetables are alkaline and will help to neutralize the pH in your saliva. Including the following vegetables into your diet will do great things for your body and your smile:
Most seeds and beans are alkaline foods, and they can help to eliminate acidic saliva. A few great options to incorporate into your diet are:
One of the easiest ways to make your diet more alkaline is to limit bread and sugary sweets. Carbohydrates take the form of sugar or starches soon after digesting, which lowers your pH levels and makes your saliva more acidic.
Alcoholic beverages and drinks that are caffeinated all have acidic properties. Limiting your wine intake and only drinking one cup of coffee in the morning is an easy way to keep your saliva pH alkaline. Reducing your intake is a helpful start in making your saliva more balanced.
Artificial sugar alternatives are ok in moderation, but some are better than others. Xylitol, beet sugar and honey are all acidic on the pH scale. Swap these sweeteners for Stevia to support an alkaline saliva pH.
The best reference guide that can inform you of foods or beverages that are alkaline or acidic is the list created by the FDA. If you feel that you are struggling with balancing the pH in your mouth after making dietary changes, it could signal a more serious dental or medical condition.
Constant bad breath is an indication of an issue, so if you’re experiencing this, contact Hoffman Dental Care. Together we can find the real cause of your halitosis and develop a treatment plan for restoring the balance of your pH levels.
