The term pH has become increasingly common in our everyday vocabulary, but few people know its origin. pH refers to a scale used to measure acidity and was introduced in the early 1900s by the chemist Søren Sørensen. The term comes from the German “Potenz Hydrogen”, meaning the power of hydrogen.
The pH scale ranges from 0 (very acidic) to 14 (very alkaline). For example, pure water has a pH of 7.07, while most fruits are generally acidic. The stomach environment is also highly acidic, ranging from 1 to 1.6.
| ACIDIC FOOD – pH < 4.5 pH | pH |
| Apples | 3.4 |
| Strawberries | 3.5 |
| Lemon Juice | 2.4 |
| Peaches | 3.8 |
| Pears | 4.1 |
| Tomato Juice | 4.3 |
| Orange Juice | 3.7 |
| Tomato | 4.2 |
| Vinegar | 2.9 |
| Cola | 2.5 |
Acidity and Oral Health
Our saliva is naturally slightly alkaline and helps protect tooth enamel from erosion between meals. However, when saliva becomes more acidic, it allows bacteria to multiply and produce additional acids, which can attack the enamel.
The foods mentioned earlier are often beneficial for the body but can be harmful to teeth. So what can you do?
A few sprays of Cariex®, immediately after eating or drinking, help neutralize food acidity and support the saliva’s buffering capacity, preventing enamel demineralization. Cariex® is also recommended before brushing, so you don’t have to wait the usual 30/40 minutes, and especially before bedtime, to counteract dry mouth at night, which often leads to an acidic environment and prolonged enamel demineralization.