Is Lemon Water Bad For Your Oral Health?

Drinking a glass of lemon water has become one of the leading dietary trends for those looking to reduce bloating and lose weight over time. But are you damaging your oral health by following this latest dietary technique? In this latest post, our experts highlight the impact of lemon water on your teeth and gums.

Acids Can Damage Your Teeth

The citric acid within lemons can have a significant damaging effect on your teeth. The citric acid wears away the enamel and allows other acids and sugars access to the tooth underneath. This can lead to cavities over time. If you have been following the lemon water dietary trend for some time, it’s important to look out for the signs of erosion. These signs include:

Tooth sensitivity: Without the enamel to protect them, your teeth can become more sensitive to sugars and other foods.
Transparent edges: Teeth with transparent edges are indicative of enamel erosion. It means that your enamel is wearing thin at the sides of the tooth.
Discolouration: You may also experience tooth discoloration as your enamel continues to erode. This is because, without the enamel to protect the tooth, the dentin substance underneath is shown more clearly.

Tips for Mitigating the Oral Health Risks of Lemon Water

While the use of lemon water as a dietary aid can have consequences if the product isn’t carefully introduced and managed, there are techniques you can use to mitigate lemon water’s impact on your teeth. Consider the following four tips for optimal oral health:

Try using essential oil: By using essential oil instead of lemon fruit directly, you’ll be harnessing the lemon peel to get the same great, sweet taste. Lemon peel has far less acidic content than lemon fruit.
Don’t brush your teeth immediately: If you’ve just consumed a glass of lemon water, it’s recommended that you wait at least two hours until you brush. This will prevent you from damaging your enamel when it’s at its weakest point. It’s also important that, when you do brush, you rinse your mouth with water first.
Try drinking with a straw: Many have found that drinking their lemon water with a straw is a great way to limit its impact on their teeth and gums.
Drink cold lemon water: Cold lemon water has been proven to have less active and available acidic content than hot lemon water. Drink your lemon water cold to help mitigate its negative impact.

If you are looking for more information on your diet’s impact on your teeth, our expert team can help guide you in managing the process while keeping your teeth healthy and clean! To discuss the subject with a specialist, call us now!