pH Levels and How They Affect Your Mouth
When it comes to teeth, demineralization begins at pH 5.5, so it is important to lower the amount of acidic foods that are in our diet to help minimize dental decay. When there is a high intake of acidic foods it can also lead to dental erosion.
Dental erosion is the loss of tooth enamel caused by an acid attack. The longer the teeth are exposed to an acid attack the more harmful the effects. From the time you sip your juice or soft drink, or eat a sugary or acidic food the acid attack begins and lasts up to 20 minutes, and each time you take a drink or eat that specific food the acidic attack begins again.
See below an example of foods with a high pH level and a list with low pH levels.
| Low pH Level Foods ( Acidic) | High pH Level Foods ( Alkaline) |
| Juice, soft drinks, tea | Celery, Spinach, |
| Pasta/grains | Apples, Berries, Bananas |
| Pork, Beef | Beans |
| Canned foods, Pickles | Broccoli , Avocado |
| Ice cream | Radish, Bell peppers |
| Cream Cheese | Nuts |
Always try to avoid sticky candies or those that you suck on (or drink) for prolonged periods of time and be sure to ask your dental team for more tricks on how to minimize the acid in your diet.
