Understanding Oral pH: Testing & Preventing Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is associated with excess acid in the body. You can use a simple pH test to learn your pH level anytime. A slightly alkaline level is desirable. If your pH is too low, you can lessen your acidity and encourage a healthier pH level by avoiding red meat, soft drinks and fish while eating more green leafy vegetables, fruits and dairy products.

Instructions

• 1

  Wait at least two hours after ingesting any food. Fill your mouth with saliva as much as possible. Swallow it.

• 2

  Fill your mouth with saliva and swallow it again to make sure that your saliva is clean. Fill your mouth with saliva a third time. Place some of your saliva onto pH paper.

• 3

  Wait 20 seconds. If the paper turns blue, you have a slightly alkaline and healthy pH level of 7.4. Compare the color of your test result to the colors on the chart that comes with the pH paper. If your level is below 7.0, wait two hours and repeat the test.