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Acids and Alkalis

By: Kathryn Rieb

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Acids

Acid is primarily a substance that reacts to a base. It is

definable by its bitter taste or the color it turns when

put against an indicator. On the pH scale, acid can have a pH anywhere from 1 to 6, 1 being the strongest and 6

being the weakest. Acids can be solutions, solids or liquids. The stronger, more concentrated acids can be

corrosive and can harm humans and the

environment.

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Alkalis

An alkali (or alkaline) is a base that is the counterpart of

acid. You can define alkalis by testing them against an indicator. Alkalis can have a pH anywhere from 8 to 14, 8

being the weakest. Concentrated alkalis can

cause chemical burns, but they are mostly harmless (I still wouldn’t recommend

drinking it though) and are often found in your house as

cleaning items.

+Tooth Decay

Tooth decay (or a cavity) is caused when food gets stuck in and between your teeth. It can happen to anyone, some people more than others. You see, there is a certain bacteria in your mouth that turns foods, especially sugar or starch, into acids. If left alone, those acids will stick to your teeth, irritate your gums and begin to drill through the protecting layer of your tooth. If left alone, the tooth will soon have a large hole in it and will fall out unless it is treated properly. The only way to get rid of this is to go to your dentist, who will then drill deeper than the hole to get rid of the decay and stop it from spreading further and fill it in.

+Tooth Decay- How it affects you

Tooth decay is very painful and it will make eating very unpleasant. Plus, you will eventually have to go to the dentist and have it taken care of, which trust me is not a fun experience (they have drills!). If you smile with your teeth, you won’t be able to anymore if you have cavities! Who would want to see the holes in your teeth? I know what you may be thinking, ‘If I have baby teeth, won’t they just fall out anyway?’ and you are correct! However, the reason your baby teeth fall out naturally is because it is waiting for the adult tooth to grow in to show it where to go. However, if there is no tooth there since it fell out when you had a cavity, the adult tooth will probably grow in crooked or in the wrong place.

+Tooth Decay- Any cures?

There is no cure other than going to the dentist after the decay has set in, however you can stop it beforehand by brushing your teeth with the alkaline, toothpaste! It fights the acid in your teeth and if you manage to get all the spots in your mouth you should have no problem. The alkaline in your toothpaste is usually very weak depending on the brand, but so is the acid it’s fighting. However, if you have a sweet tooth you have more of a chance of getting a tooth decay!

+Stomach Ulcers

A a peptic ulcer is the most commonly occurring ulcer in the gastrointestinal tract (usually the stomach and intestines). 70-90% of peptic ulcers are connected to Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria that resides in stomach acid. It occurs when the gastric juice in the stomach starts to corrode the inside of the stomach, irritating and eating away the flesh, leaving a hole. There are different types of ulcers, depending on where it is. For example, if an ulcer is created in the esophagus then it is called an Esophageal ulcer. However, if it is in the stomach then it is called a gastric ulcer.

+Stomach Ulcers – How it Affects You

Having a peptic ulcer is very uncomfortable and painful. Symptoms of having a stomach ulcer can be stomach pain, bloating, nausea, heartburn, loss of appetite and/or weight and vomiting blood, amongst other things. Most ulcers, for example a duodenal ulcer, are not harmful and won’t cause you too much pain. However, something like a stomach ulcer will be very painful and probably will need treatment.

+Stomach Ulcers – Any cures?

There are a couple ways to treat peptic ulcers. One, to change your daily life and eating habits, like limiting dairy intake, stop smoking or drinking if you do and go easy on the aspirin since it often is the cause of peptic ulcers. Your doctor may give you some medicine like antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors that reduce stomach acid levels to allow the ulcer to heal or an upper endoscopy. Surgery also works if all else fails.