Oral acid-buffering

Oral acid-buffering refers to the property of saliva and its buffer systems (notably the carbonic acid/bicarbonate, phosphate, and protein buffer systems) to neutralize acids produced in the oral cavity, especially those generated by bacterial metabolism of dietary carbohydrates. This buffering is crucial for preventing the pH of dental plaque from dropping below the critical value (~5.6), which would otherwise lead to demineralization of tooth enamel and promote dental caries. The main component responsible is bicarbonate, whose concentration increases with salivary flow, providing enhanced acid-neutralizing capacity during eating or gum chewing. Oral acid-buffering is a physiological process, not a discrete molecular entity or drug target[3].

Other names

oral bufferingsalivary acid bufferingsalivary buffer systems