The line graph illustrates the fluctuations in mouth pH levels over a 40-minute period following the consumption of three different types of sugar: fruit sugar, cane sugar, and honey. A pH level of 5.5 serves as the threshold, below which tooth decay is likely to occur.
Initially, all three substances start at a neutral pH of 7. However, within five minutes, acidity levels spike significantly for all types. Cane sugar causes the most dramatic drop to 3.6, followed by fruit sugar at 4.2 and honey at 4.8. Notably, all three substances fall below the critical 5.5 threshold within the first five minutes, indicating an immediate risk of tooth decay.
Regarding recovery, honey exhibits the fastest return to neutrality, rising above the 5.5 threshold by the 15-minute mark and reaching 7 by 25 minutes. Fruit sugar follows a more gradual recovery, crossing the threshold at 20 minutes and returning to 7 by 35 minutes. Conversely, cane sugar remains the most harmful, staying below the 5.5 threshold for 30 minutes before finally recovering to 7.1 by the end of the 40-minute period.