The Buffer System
pH indicates how acidic or alkaline a solution is: 0 > 6 Acidic – 6 > 8 Neutral – 8 > 14 Alkaline.
The body’s metabolic processes cause constant fluctuations in pH. To help prevent various disorders, the body relies on a buffer system that keeps pH levels in balance.
In the oral cavity, this job is carried out by saliva, thanks to the bicarbonate it contains, which has the ability to neutralize acids. Every time we consume food or drinks, the salivary buffer system becomes active, and in a healthy individual it takes about 30 minutes for the pH to return to balance — a process known as the Stephan curve.
