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Oral pH

The environment of the mouth is a critical part of its overall health, especially the acid-alkaline balance—the pH—of the saliva. The pH can be measured with pH paper, available at a pharmacy, health store, or online. The pH of the mouth should be slightly alkaline, in the range of about 7.4 to 7.6 (slightly higher in children). You may hear or read that the mouth should be an acid pH, but this is confused with the fact that many people have a mouth with a pH in the acid range—6.0, 6.5, 6.8, and so forth. (A pH of 7.0 is neutral; above is alkaline and below is acid.)

One key relationship with oral pH is fat burning. Those with lower pH levels typically have higher RQ (respiratory quotient) numbers, indicating reduced fat burning. As you improve your diet, build your aerobic system, and develop more endurance, your oral pH, among other things, will improve.

Here’s the procedure to test your pH:

 

 

Wait about fifteen minutes after eating or drinking, or rinse your mouth well with water and wait about five minutes.Use a small strip of pH paper and thoroughly moisten it in your mouth for about five seconds.Immediately compare the color on your test strip with the color on the pH paper container to determine the approximate pH.

Initially, perform this test two or three times in one day, then again a few days later to establish your average pH level—although it should not vary by much if you follow the above procedure properly. If your pH is consistently too high (above 7.6), it may indicate a need to increase natural carbohydrates—such as fruits and whole grains. But if your pH is too low, it may indicate two things: you’re eating too many carbohydrates, most likely the refined types, and you need to add more protein and fat to your diet. After making the appropriate dietary changes, check the pH twice a week to follow progress; improvements in pH could take up to a month or more.

In children and adults, low pH—less than 7.0—promotes tooth decay. While in practice I noticed those individuals with proper pH did not get cavities, but those who had tooth decay almost always had low pH.