Saliva that is properly pH balanced (6.2 to 7.6) helps maintain a healthy mouth and protect your teeth. The pH level of saliva can drop below 5.5 when you’re drinking acidic beverages. When this happens, the acids in your mouth start to demineralize (break down) tooth enamel. If the tooth enamel becomes too thin, the dentin is exposed. This can lead to discomfort when consuming hot, cold, or sugary drinks. To keep a balanced pH level in your mouth, you could consume only foods and beverages with a midrange pH. However, that would be pretty boring and most likely deprive you of important minerals and vitamins. A more acceptable idea would be adjusting your behavior with certain foods and drinks, such as avoiding excessive consumption of acidic beverages and maintaining good oral hygiene. Testing your salivary pH with test strips is simple and there are a number of easy lifestyle adjustments you can make to help keep your saliva pH properly balanced.