Take Control of Acidity in Your Mouth!

Have you ever wondered if many of the diseases including dental conditions may have a common cause? Many studies attribute this to pH imbalance. You can change your pH and improve your teeth and gums. Your mouth can be acidic, neutral or alkaline. and pH is a measure of acidity. The “p” stands for potent, or potential to be, and the “H” stands for hydrogen. Something that has a pH below 7.0 is acidic, whereas something that has a pH above 7.0 is alkaline.

If your mouth has a pH of 5.5 or below, that means that you have a acidic mouth and your saliva is damaging your teeth . The teeth will begin to erode, discolor, and you will be at risk of cavities. Higher the amount of time the acids are in contact with teeth, the greater is the severity of the damage. Acidic drinks to avoid include coke (pH 2.0),  beer (pH 2.5) and coffee (pH 4).

So maintaining a good balance of alkaline to acidic food is the best way to manage good health in your mouth and your body in general.

Alkaline forming foods include most fruits, green vegetables, peas, beans, lentils, spices, herbs and seasonings, and seeds and nuts. Acid  forming foods include meat, fish, poultry, eggs, grains, and legumes. Surprisingly enough, some beans, breakfast cereals, milk products, and fish are also below 7.0 on the pH scale. So balance is important.

A detailed list of foods and their pH values can be found under the Center for Food Safety and Nutrition website of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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