Ever wake up with a mouth that smells like a swamp met a compost bin? That’s your body waving a little flag. A low pH in your mouth means acidic bacteria are throwing a party on your tongue.
It’s not just bad breath. If your saliva feels sticky or you get that sour, metallic taste after sipping coffee, your pH is probably dipping low. Your mouth is basically the hotel lobby of your body’s chemistry.
The Pee Test (No, Really)
You can buy little pH test strips at the drugstore, just like the ones from high school science class. Pee on a strip (don’t be dramatic, it’s easy) and compare the color to a chart. Yellow-green means alkaline, orange-red means acidic.
Pro tip: First morning pee is the most accurate, because you haven’t eaten or drunk anything. Your body’s been marinating all night, so it’s honest. If your strip turns bright orange, you might want to skip the orange juice and grab some water instead.
I once tested mine after a weekend of pizza and soda. The strip looked like neon lava. My body was basically screaming, “Help! I’m marinating in regret!”
