How Does Chemistry Impact Oral Health?

Remember your chemistry class when you learned about the pH scale? If you're like most people, you might need a refresher. In this article, we'll discuss acids and bases and how to maintain a pH level that makes sense for your oral health.

What's the pH scale all about?

A pH scale measures how acidic or basic a substance is, ranging from 1 to 14. In general, neutral substances (such as water or table salt) have a pH of 7, while highly acidic things are lower on the scale and highly basic things are higher. As a comparison, orange juice has a pH between 3.3 and 4.2, while stomach acid has a pH between 1.5 and 2.5. Similarly, soap is mildly basic at pH 9, and bleach is an extremely powerful base at pH 12.5.

Ideal Oral pH

There are several pH levels in the human body. We want our skin to be mildly acidic (around 5.5) and our blood to be slightly basic (around 7.4). To keep our teeth and gums in good health, we want our saliva to be neutral most of the time. If one's saliva is more acidic, tooth enamel may be seriously damaged over time. While enamel is extremely strong and can withstand a lifetime of chewing, it can also begin to erode at a pH of 5.5.

Why Are Mouths Acidic?

What causes our mouths to be acidic? This can occur directly if you consume foods and drinks that are often tart, sour, or contain high levels of sugar. Our mouths can also become acidic indirectly as well. Whenever we eat sugary or starchy foods, the leftovers will be eaten by harmful bacteria and will produce acid on our teeth and gums. In addition, acid reflux or vomiting can also cause our mouths to produce more acid.

Saliva Is the First Line of Defense Against Acid

Saliva is our mouth's built-in defense mechanism against acids. When we lack saliva or have a dry mouth, this can be very damaging to our oral health and leave our teeth vulnerable to acid erosion. We recommend avoiding sugary drinks and foods as much as possible to help saliva do its job and remove leftover food particles from our mouths. Saliva balances our oral pH. Rather, consume more fruits, vegetables, and foods with neutral or alkaline pH levels.

Visit a Colorado Springs Dentist to Avoid Enamel Erosion

Maintaining a neutral pH in your mouth is easy with a diet low in sugar and acid. You should still brush and floss twice a day, and schedule regular dental appointments. Make an appointment with a Colorado Springs dentist at Esthetic Family Dentistry if you haven't been in a while and want to further protect against enamel erosion!