During a patient’s initial visit to our office, and at hygiene appointments, Hydrion pH test paper is used to test the saliva. This very simple test provides us with valuable information. It assists in evaluating an individual’s dental health as well as their overall wellness.
The human body is largely made up of water. Water is biologically useful in transporting nutrients and chemicals throughout the body. This water-based transport medium can have either acid or alkaline properties.
The acid-alkaline properties are measured by a graduated scale called pH. The scale values of 1.0 to 6.9 are considered acidic, 7.0 is neutral, and 7.1 to 14.0 are alkaline. The lower the pH value, the greater the acidity. The higher the pH, the greater the alkalinity.
A saliva pH of 7.0 usually indicates: A healthy dental and periodontal situation prevails. There is a low incidence of dental decay combined with little or no calculus buildup. Therefore, stable conditions should basically be found in this environment.
A saliva pH below 7.0 usually indicates: Acidemia (abnormal acidity of the blood) will prevail. If a chronic condition exists, the mouth is more susceptible to dental decay, recurrent dental decay, halitosis, and periodontitis. Chronic academia can be a causative factor for a multitude of diseases affecting the whole body.
A saliva pH above 7.0 usually indicates: Infrequently, the opposite of acidemia (alkalinity) occurs. Excessive alkalinity can bring about the same anaerobic conditions as acidemia, but it is much rarer.
The best time to test your own pH level is in the morning upon rising and before you eat or drink anything. Hydrion pH test paper can be obtained at most health food stores or at our office.
What causes an acidemic body condition? The answer can be found by simply observing one’s nutritional, dietary, lifestyle and environmental patterns. Contributing factors causing an academic condition are: exposures to processed foods, excessive amounts of red meats, white flour, refined sugars, coffee and colas, chronic stress, little or no exercise, and daily exposures to environmental toxins.
From a biological dental perspective, excess acid in the body contributes to multiple problems found in the oral cavity. These include halitosis, dry mouth, canker soars, sensitive teeth, an increase incidence of dental decay, recurrent decay associated with existing dental work, and periodontal disease i.e., gum inflammation, calculus build up, and bone loss. Compromises in general health usually include fatigue, weight gain, sinus problems, headaches, depressions, irritabilities, cancer growth, muscle pains, osteoporosis, and allergies.
A comparison of the foods eaten per person each year in the U.S. shows that we consume an average of 2,143 pounds of acid or acid forming foods compared to 380 pounds of alkaline foods. Is it any surprise, then, that there should be so much chronic illness in the general population?
It’s never too late to balance your body chemistry. Therapeutic recommendations for the treatment of acidemia include drinking copious quantities of water (fresh lemon juice in your water can alkalize your body), eliminating or reducing the amount of acids consumed in your diet, and taking digestive enzymes that facilitate the complete oxidation of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
The consumption of alkaline producing foods, such as grapefruit, watermelon, strawberries, apples, cabbage, carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, raw spinach, and green peas, will balance your body chemistry to a more alkaline condition. It’s also important to consume alkalizing minerals in your diet or by appropriate supplementation, such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, and sodium. Other factors that lead to an alkaline body condition include removing excess concentrations of carbon dioxide with deep breathing exercises and reducing stress.
For a balanced body chemistry that maintains good dental health and overall wellness, apply these guidelines to your current lifestyle and daily habits.
