The line graph illustrates changes in mouth acidity (pH levels) after consuming three different sweeteners—fruit sugar, cane sugar, and honey—over a 40-minute period. A pH below 5.5 increases the risk of tooth decay, while levels above this are safer for dental health.
Overall, all three sweeteners initially cause a sharp drop in pH, increasing acidity. However, honey allows for a faster recovery to safer pH levels compared to fruit and cane sugar.
In the first 5 minutes after consumption, cane sugar has the most dramatic effect, lowering the pH to around 3.5, while fruit sugar and honey reach minimum levels of 4.0 and 4.8, respectively. Thus, all three create a high-risk environment for tooth decay immediately after consumption.
As time progresses, honey’s pH level recovers the fastest, returning above 5.5 after about 15 minutes. Fruit sugar requires approximately 30 minutes to reach a safe pH level, while cane sugar remains acidic the longest, taking around 35 minutes to cross the 5.5 threshold.