Having a healthy pH level in your mouth can lower the risk of poor oral health. Since poor oral health impacts your overall well-being, it’s important to regulate acidity levels in your mouth, visiting your dentist routinely, and embracing good dental habits. So how can you reduce acidity in your mouth?
You can reduce mouth acidity and regain a healthier pH through good dietary choices and dental habits. Surprisingly, even exercise may help reduce acidity in your mouth. Moderate and low-impact exercise has been shown to reduce acid reflux, a common cause of mouth acidity.
What’s Saliva Have to do with Mouth Acidity?
A healthy mouth should have an alkaline pH of 7.5 or higher. If levels are lower, it can cause acidic saliva. (You can test your saliva’s pH with a pH test-paper home kit, which typically costs under $10).
Typically, our saliva retains its neutral state and helps cancel acidity in the mouth. However, if food, beverages, and sometimes medications, increase acidity levels, they can prevent saliva from “recovering” your mouth to a healthy pH level.
Why is Acidity Bad for my Teeth?
Acidic saliva can damage tooth enamel and lead to serious tooth decay.
When tooth enamel erodes it cannot be restored, not even with products. Enamel is vital to the overall health of your smile. Enamel erosion can lead to cavities. Cavities, when left untreated, can lead to the need for a root canal, extraction, or other serious oral surgery.
What are Ways I Can Decrease Acidity in My Mouth?
You can improve the pH level in your mouth and your oral health by making wise choices in what you eat or drink.
Many fruits, like limes, blueberries, and lemons, are quite acidic. But that doesn’t mean you need to avoid them. Consume healthy foods such as these and then counter the acid by rinsing your mouth and/or brushing your teeth soon after you eat. Here are other ways to decrease acidity in your mouth:
- Limit consumption of fruit juices, “fizzy” drinks, and other high-sugar beverages
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Limit eating sugary foods
- Choose milk and/or water over other types of drinks
- Rinse your mouth as soon as possible after consuming a high-acidic food or beverage
- Brush your teeth regularly (at least twice a day)
- Chew sugar-free gum between meals to boost saliva and strengthen its ability to balance pH levels. Gum with xylitol can be helpful.
To learn more about how to reduce acidity in your mouth, or to learn how to improve your overall oral health, contact us today to schedule an appointment.