The Negative Impacts of Lemon Water on Your Teeth
With summer coming, we need to increase our water intake. For some, that also means popping down to the supermarket and buying lemons that are now in season to add to their water.
Many people will drink lemon with their water as part of their daily routine. Lemon has been associated with health benefits such as aiding digestion, boosting immunity, and promoting weight loss. However, when it comes to our oral health, lemon in our water could not be any more harmful to our teeth. In short, lemon in water can damage the tooth enamel and cause dental sensitivity.
Lemon water has two sides to it. On the one hand, lemon has vitamin C, which helps fight off bacteria in the mouth and promotes healthy gums; on the other hand, lemon is highly acidic, which will progressively impact the tooth enamel and dentin when sipped frequently throughout the day. In fact, lemon has a pH level of around 2–3, making it extremely acidic.
As the acid from the lemon water away the enamel of the teeth, it can lead to various health issues such as discolouration, sensitivity, and even tooth loss. The discolouration in the teeth can be quick and dramatic, with the teeth turning yellow or appearing to become translucent due to the white enamel being eroded.
The persistent sipping of lemon water throughout the day and the consistent consumption over the summer period means, as dental health professionals, we see a lot of issues that arise from drinking lemon water in the autumn and winter when the damage has already started to show.
In the spring and summer months, we see patients who have persistently drunk hot lemon tea with honey as a health aid over the winter, only for them to have been impacted by dental erosion due to the significantly higher amount of acid the drink has with hot water compared with cold water. The sugar content from the honey combined with acidic hot lemon makes it a highly acidic and corrosive beverage for your teeth.
How to Reduce the Risk of Drinking Water with Lemon
Limit consumption: Consistent exposure to citric acid from lemon juice can damage your teeth. Therefore, limit the intake to one sitting, rather than throughout the day.
Drink through a straw: Drinking lemon water through a straw helps bypass the teeth (but not entirely). This reduces the risk of tooth. Erosion.
Rinse with water: After drinking lemon water in one sitting, follow with a glass of plain water to reduce the acid in your mouth.
Don’t brush immediately: Wait at least 30 minutes after consuming before brushing your teeth. The time between can help to reduce the acidity in your mouth through water and saliva.
Consider alternatives: Whilst drinking lemon water looks healthy, it is not good for your teeth and gums. Consider alternatives such as unflavoured carbonated water or plain water with cucumber or mint.
Use fluoride toothpaste: This can help strengthen your teeth and gums and is well-known for its protective properties against tooth decay and erosion.
While lemon water has many health benefits, it’s essential to be mindful of its potential impact on teeth. By following these tips and taking precautions, you can continue enjoying this refreshing beverage without compromising your oral health.
About Western Prosthodontic Centre
Our aim is to provide the highest quality prosthodontic services available on the market today and deliver exceptional customised results for each patient. It is our attention to detail and capacity to develop practical solutions to the most complex dental problems that provide the greatest advantage to you.
If you are confused with a diagnosis or a previous treatment proposal and would like a second opinion, we are here to provide clarification. More often than not, we can provide alternative treatment options that may better suit your circumstances or give you the confidence to return to your normal provider.