We brush our teeth twice a day. We floss—maybe not every day but pretty much every day. So, we feel pretty good about things when we go in for our regular exam and cleaning. 

And then we’re told that we’ve got decay happening. Or worsening gum disease. And we’re gobsmacked. 

Truth be told, a lot can happen in the months between dental visits, and as important as brushing and flossing are, they’re not the only factors that affect oral health. Most of us would like to know what we can do to lower our risk of unhappy surprises at the dental office. 

The answer lies in our spit. 

SALIVA: A BIOMARKER FOR ORAL HEALTH 

Saliva has a number of important jobs, such as washing away food debris and delivering minerals to our teeth to keep their protective enamel strong and intact. It also helps neutralize acids that could otherwise destroy enamel, making our teeth more vulnerable to decay. 

Some of those acids come from what you eat and drink. Others come from the metabolic waste of bacteria that feast on sugars and starches in what we consume. (It’s not just sweet stuff, but any foods made from white flour and other refined carbs.) 

In a healthy mouth, it takes about 20 to 30 minutes for saliva to return the environment to a neutral state. In an unhealthy mouth, though, conditions can remain more acidic on a day-to-day basis. That’s the bad news. 

The better news is that this means that regularly checking our oral pH can give us a pretty good read on our current oral health. 

A HEALTHY MOUTH IS A NEUTRAL MOUTH 

This was demonstrated by a study reported by the National Institutes of Health. Three hundred patients took part: 100 with healthy gums, 100 with chronic gingivitis (early-stage gum disease), and 100 with chronic periodontitis (advanced gum disease). Saliva samples were taken from each and then analyzed. 

Compared to their peers with healthy gums, those with periodontitis had more acidic mouths. Interestingly, though, those with gingivitis tended to have the most alkaline mouths. This is because alkaline conditions are essential for plaque growth. That plaque irritates the gums, triggering inflammation. 

Ideally, our oral pH should be right around 7.0, which is true neutral. 

HOW TO CHECK SALIVA’S PH 

Testing our saliva’s pH is simple. All we need are test strips. 

To make sure to get an accurate result, don’t eat or drink anything for at least two hours before testing saliva. 

Once ready, fill the mouth with saliva and swallow or spit it out. Then fill the mouth with saliva again and place a small amount on a test strip. 

To determine the pH of the sample, just compare the color of the strip to the chart on the container it came from. 

EATING AND DRINKING: KEYS TO  
REDUCING ORAL ACIDITY 

If one’s saliva is consistently acidic, the place to start fixing that is one’s diet. While each person’s specific needs can vary, the ideal is a diet centered on real, minimally processed food with lots of fresh produce and limited refined grains, and added sugars (even “natural” or “healthier” ones like honey, molasses, and agave). Think paleo, keto, Wise Traditions and similar ways of eating. 

Most common beverages tend toward the acidic—even unflavored, unsweetened seltzers—so should be enjoyed only occasionally. Flat water should be our go-to. 

However, we should know that even some brands of flat water can actually be acidic. One study reported by the American Dental Hygienists Association of a dozen bottled or tap water sources found that half of them had pH levels below 7.0, despite the claims given in water quality reports or on websites. This included the two most readily available brands, Dasani and Aquafina. 

Interestingly, both samples of tap water that they tested were slightly alkaline. Of course, both also contained fluoride. That, at least, can be removed before drinking. WaterFilterGuru.com offers a solid overview of which methods work best (and which don’t work at all). Other brands are included in a report that’s available at TenSpringWater.com. 

Dr. Vladimir Gashinsky, DDS, “aka” Dr. G, is the founder of The Holistic Dental Center of New Jersey and has been in private practice at his Millburn, NJ, office for over two decades. It continues to provide exceptional biological dentistry with surgical expertise in a friendly, home-like environment. For more information or to make an appointment, call at 973-609-5984 or visit  HolisticDentalCenternj.com.