How to Test Alkaline Balance in Saliva

If you've heard the term "litmus test," you've already heard about testing for pH levels. A pH test measures hydrogen ion concentration, identifying the acidity or alkalinity of a substance, such as saliva, on a scale from 0 to 14. On this scale, 7 is neutral, with lower numbers acidic and higher numbers alkaline. Human blood normally has a pH balance of about 7.4, while the normal range of saliva is between 6.0 to 7.4.

Things You'll Need

• PH test strips or paper roll
• Plastic spoon
• Notebook
• Pen or pencil
• Computer

Instructions

1. Buy pH paper test strips or a roll of pH test paper at your local pharmacy or health food store, or place an order from an online retail store. Purchase the ones with a narrow range from about 4.5 or 5.5 to 8.5, and choose graduated strips that show a range of colors, rather than one color for acidity and one for alkaline.

2. Sleep for at least six hours and then do not brush your teeth, or eat or drink anything.

3. Take a test strip from the pack or tear off a 3 inch strip from the roll.

4. Spit some saliva out once or twice into a sink, or onto the ground if you're outdoors, to clear your mouth.

5. Spit some saliva into a plastic spoon and then dip the pH test strip into the saliva. Wait at least 20 seconds.

6. Compare the color of the pH test strip with the scale on the package. Colors typically range from light green or yellow on the acidic end to blue on the alkaline side. Record your number in a notebook or on your computer for future comparison.

7. Continue testing your pH whenever you like. Test at least two hours after eating or drinking so the food and beverage does not affect the test, or test immediately after eating to see how the substance affects your saliva's pH balance.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not touch the pH paper to your tongue or put it in your mouth.

References

• Body pH as Indicator of Health
• Saliva and Urine pH Evaluation