Best Dental Care Providers in Brampton - Sandalwood Smiles Dentistry

Importance of pH balance in the oral cavity

There are so many things we overlook in our daily turmoil called life. One thing that we tend to neglect quite often is our dental care. Of course we have the best dental clinics like Sandalwood Smiles around to help us out of any dental ailment, but maintaining oral health remains largely a self-concern.

One aspect of oral care is the maintenance of optimal pH level in the mouth/oral cavity.

What’s the optimal pH level of oral cavity?

Healthy pH of saliva is taken as 5.6-7.9. That means it should be slightly acidic to slightly alkaline pH is preferred. A pH level higher than 5.5 reduces the risk of damage to teeth enamel. A pH level lower than 5.5 means an acidic environment is created which is harmful for oral health.

Understand this in a way that pH of pure water is 7, which is the neutral ph. A slightly alkaline environment is preferred.

Effects of pH imbalance in mouth?

We often think that sugar is the cause of tooth decay but technically it’s the changes in pH induced by sugars that do the damage. Here we list the various adverse effects of imbalanced pH on dental care.

•         Enamel erosion: The sugars that adhere to teeth and get dissolved in saliva lower the pH inside mouth and create an acidic environment. The acids that form inside the mouth cause enamel erosion.

•         Bacterial Attack: Microorganisms and bacteria thriving in an acidic environment grow exponentially. This bacterial invasion causes a plethora of oral diseases. Tooth infection, dental caries, and cavities to name a few.

•         Sensitive teeth: Enamel erosion causes exposure of sensitive dentin that leads to increased teeth sensitivity. That means inconvenience while eating anything cold or hot.

•         Increased Plaque Deposition: High bacteria content in mouth leads to increased rate of plaque deposition. Increased plaque deposition further leads to oral problems such as gingivitis.

•         Bad Breath: If too acidic a pH is harmful, highly alkaline pH is also harmful in many ways. It leads to increase in putrefaction bacteria in mouth which leads to the problem of bad breath.

How to maintain an optimal pH level in mouth?

That’s possible through proper oral care. Stay away from processed foods and snacks like fries and chips that adhere to teeth surface. Pay heed to maintenance of regular oral care regime that includes brushing, flossing, and use of mouthwash. You can use pH balancing gum once a while after meals.

Ask the best dental care providers in Brampton, sandalwood Smiles, on how to take proper care of teeth to reduce future damage. Our emergency helplines are open 24X7.