Why are my urine and saliva pH readings different?
"I measured both my first-morning urine pH and saliva pH and the readings were very different. The saliva was in the normal range and the urine was completely yellow. How can I get different pH readings from urine and saliva?"
Urine and saliva are very different bodily fluids. Urine carries excretion impurities, acids, and other unwanted substances filtered from the blood by the kidneys.
The pH of urine varies throughout the day but is generally more acidic than saliva. Saliva is a filtrate of the blood, secreted in the mouth to enhance digestion; its pH is generally higher than urine because excess acids are excreted in the urine.
The first-morning urine pH test — taken after at least 6 hours of sleep without urinating — is the best way to estimate metabolic acid load. The ideal first-morning urine pH is 6.5 to 7.5.
Saliva pH can be altered by bacteria and food residue in the mouth. A good first-morning saliva reading is in the range of 7 to 7.5.
New to pH testing? Dr. Brown's pH test paper makes first-morning tracking simple, and our complete alkaline diet guide explains what the numbers mean.
