pH Values

 
- Chemicals are classified as “acids” or “bases”
- The pH value measures how acidic or basic a solution is; values range from 0 – 14
- High pH = base; Low pH = acid
- Materials that are neither acids nor bases are neutral; water is neutral at 7.0 pH
 - The lower the pH value, the more erosive it is for tooth enamel
- Tooth enamel begins to dissolve at 5.5 pH
 
 
 
 
 
Be Smart
- Avoid soft drinks, especially during orthodontic treatment
- Drink water and milk
- Brush and floss as recommended
- Fluoride strengthens teeth – use fluoride toothpaste and a fluoride rinse
- See your dentist at least every six months for a professional cleaning and check-up, or more often if recommended
 
If You Must Drink a Soft Drink
- Drink soft drinks through a straw
- Have soft drinks with a meal
- Brush right away after drinking a soft drink; if you can’t brush right away, at least rinse with water
- Drink the soft drink quickly; avoid sipping over a long period of time – each sip renews the acid attack on teeth
 
Questions?
Talk them over with Dr. Crespo and our orthodontic staff. Professionals are always your best source of information and advice about your orthodontic treatment.
 
Liquids (including test drinks) – pH

- Hydrochloric acid** 0.0

- Battery acid*** 1.0

- Stomach acid** 1.5

- Coca-Cola (regular) 2.60

- Pepsi (regular) 2.62

- Coca-Cola (diet) 2.62

- Lemonade (Minute Maid) 2.63

- Powerade (Mountain Berry Blast) 2.67

- Powerade (Fruit Punch) 2.67

- Powerade Zero (Strawberry) 2.72

- Hawaiian Punch (Fruit Juicy Red) 2.82

- Powerade Zero (Grape) 2.84

- 5-Hour Energy (Pomegranate) 2.91

- Pepsi (diet) 2.97

- Dr. Pepper (regular) 2.98

- Gatorade (Orange) 2.99

- Gatorade (Fruit Punch) 3.03

- Propel (Lemon) 3.08

- Propel (Black Cherry) 3.10

- Sunkist (regular) 3.13

- Capri Sun (Red Berry) 3.19

- Dr. Pepper (diet) 3.22

- Sprite (regular) 3.26

- Mountain Dew (regular) 3.34

- 7-Up (regular) 3.35

- Sprite Zero 3.40

- Mountain Dew (diet) 3.42

- Red Bull Energy Drink (main flavor) 3.50

- Sunkist (diet) 3.54

- Monster Energy (regular) 3.59

- 7-Up (diet) 3.64

- Apple Juice (Mott’s) 3.75

- Orange Juice (Tropicana – no pulp) 3.93

- Tomato Juice (Campbell’s) 4.12

- Tea (Gold Peak – unsweetened) 4.25

- A&W Root Beer (regular) 4.43

- A&W Root Beer (diet) 4.65

- Coffee (black, freshly brewed) 6.12

- Milk (Prairie Farms 2%) 6.70

- Pure water** (neutral) 7.00

 
* pH testing of 36 soft drinks was commissioned by the American Association of Orthodontists and performed by St. Louis Testing Laboratories. ** chemistry.about.com *** U.S. National Library of Medici