Write down the food you eat in your food diary as you go, rather than waiting until the end of the day. It’s possible you could forget something if you wait until later, and then your food diary won’t be as accurate. You might want to download a smartphone app to help keep your food diary, especially if you normally have your smartphone with you — that way, you won’t forget to write things down as soon as you eat them. Some of these apps are free, while others require a monthly subscription.
Soft drinks, even those that are “diet” or “sugar-free,” are still highly acidic because of the carbonation. Processed sugary foods as well as high-glycemic foods, such as white bread, doughnuts, and potatoes, are also very acidic. Tomatoes, dried fruits, and citrus fruits are highly acidic. However, the acidity typically isn’t as much of a problem if you eat them as part of a balanced meal, rather than by themselves. Whole foods are better to eat than processed foods because acids are frequently added to processed foods. This can make a food acidic that normally wouldn’t be. [4] X Research source
Generally, it’s a good idea to eliminate soft drinks from your diet completely. They don’t have any nutritional value, have a dehydrating effect, and also increase the level of acid in your mouth. Sour candies can be as acidic as battery acid and can cause significant erosion to the enamel of your teeth over time. Even if you enjoy the flavor, try to eat them only rarely. Even though drinking water with lemon has health benefits, it can increase the acidity in your mouth and damage tooth enamel.
Your dentist may also have other recommendations that can help you get your mouth acidity under control and better protect your teeth. Follow any advice from your dentist to keep your mouth in its best health.
For example, if you like tomatoes (which are acidic), you might add them to a salad that included greens and cheese to balance out the acid. Bananas, bread, avocado, and broccoli are also low-acidic foods that can balance out the acid in more acidic foods such as tomatoes, berries, and citrus fruits. Avoid holding acidic foods or beverages in your mouth longer than necessary. Simply swallow a drink rather than swishing it around in your mouth. Because milk and other dairy products have a neutral pH, they can help neutralize any acids in other foods and drinks you might be consuming at the same time. [9] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Avoid sipping sugary drinks in between meals.
Some gums are recommended by dental associations, such as the ADA (American Dental Association). Look on the package for a seal of approval. If you’re taking medication for acid reflux or other stomach problems, you may also have dry mouth, which can contribute to mouth acidity since you aren’t producing enough saliva to wash away the acids in your mouth. [11] X Research source
The oil will neutralize the acids in your mouth and help clean your mouth. Don’t spit the oil down your sink since it could solidify and clog your pipes.
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid causing further damage to your enamel. Avoid abrasive kinds of toothpaste, including charcoal toothpaste and whitening toothpaste, which can also damage your enamel. It’s also a good idea to rinse with a fluoride mouth wash before brushing your teeth to neutralize the acid in your mouth. This keeps the acid from causing further damage to your teeth as you brush. [14] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source
Test strips come in different ranges of measurement. However, since you’re testing your mouth acidity, you don’t have to be too worried about the upper ranges. As long as the strips test a pH from 0 to 7. 5 or 9 they’ll work for your purposes.
If you’re concerned about not eating or drinking for that long, do the test first thing in the morning, before you brush your teeth.
If you have a hard time bringing up enough saliva, rub a piece of gauze over the inside of your bottom lip. This should generate saliva to soak the gauze. You can then press the test strip on the gauze.
Read the package of the test strips you bought and follow the instructions there. Some test strips may take longer to develop than others.
Your saliva should be neutral, which would be a pH ranging from 5 to 8. If you see a pH between 1 and 4, that indicates that you have acidic saliva.
Use your pH test results in conjunction with a food diary to determine what foods are potentially increasing the level of acid in your mouth. This can help you further adjust your diet to reduce the acidity of your mouth.
