Group C

Effect Of Mouthwash in the pH of the Mouth

Introduction:

The members of Group C are Ana Barros, Luisa Gaviano, Luca Zaneti and Talha Afzal. Our group experimented and observed the change of pH in the mouth before and after using mouth wash. We took one set of samples of saliva of different people before and after the use of mouthwash. Then we took another set of samples of saliva of different people who had just eaten and drunk some food articles like chips, cheese, salami and lemonade and then after the use of mouthwash. Mouthwash took the pH of their saliva towards neutrality which was decreased by the food particles.

Aims:

• How does the pH in the mouth change after eating different articles of food?
• Is the use of mouthwash useful and necessary for the treatment of bad breath?
• What is the effect of mouthwash on the pH of the mouth?

Change of pH in the Mouth After Eating Different Articles of Food

Each one of us ate and drank different types of food like chips, salami, cheese and lemonade and took a set of samples of saliva. Then the same people used mouthwash and took another set of samples of saliva. The following changes occurred:

Lemon:

We measured the pH of lemon in a test tube, and as a result it was found that the pH of lemon itself is 1 according to scale of colored chart because it contains acetic acid.

Therefore, lemon would have a great effect on the pH of the mouth of an individual. As predicted due the natural pH of lemonade, the pH of the mouth changed drastically to acidic value. However, after using mouth, that acidity changed to neutral or basic value pH. The table below shows the effect of lemonade on the pH of the mouth just after being consumed.