You are here looking for the no BS answer to the question: Is Lemon Bad For Your Teeth?
Starting your day with a glass of lemon water is inviting. Also, considering lemons are high in vitamin C, fiber, and other helpful plant compounds, a glass of lemon water can positively impact your overall health.
For instance, lemon water can reduce skin wrinkling, freshen your breath, weight loss, relieve constipation, boost your immune system, and some studies suggest that drinking lemon water may help treat kidney stones.
As you can see, drinking lemon water has several health benefits. However, have you ever wondered about the impact of lemon water on your teeth?
This post answers a prevalent question: is lemon bad for your teeth and gleans insight on helpful information to minimize the effects of lemon on your oral health.
Is Lemon Bad For Your Teeth?
Liquids having a pH of less than 4 are harmful to our teeth and cause an adverse effect on our dental health. Lemon juice with a pH of 2-3 is bad for your teeth, and its acidic nature causes enamel erosion, i.e., loss of enamel.
Enamel is the protective shield that safeguards your teeth from all the harmful effects. Loss of enamel makes the lower dentil exposed and causes hypersensitivity. The yellow color of the dentil may also cause the yellowish color of the teeth.
Higher temperatures cause the chemical reactions to take place faster, and that’s why a glass of warm lemon juice will be more harmful to your dental health.
Many people neglect this and believe that having your teeth brushed after drinking such juices will keep the harmful effects away. But, it’s not the case. This makes the situation even worse.
Your enamel needs to get recovered from the negative effect caused by acidic juice. It is recommended not to brush for at least 30 minutes after drinking lemon juice to prevent enamel erosion and cavities.
The good news is, there are several other practices to enjoy lemon water without damaging your teeth. They include:
Ways to Minimize the Effects of Lemon
-
Drink The Juice By Straw
Using a straw to drink lemon juice minimizes the contact between the juice and your teeth. Use a reusable straw to protect your teeth along with the precious environment.
-
Brush Teeth Regularly
Dental care is directly linked to brushing. You should brush twice a day for healthy teeth.
However it would be best if you didn’t brush your teeth immediately after consuming lemon beverages. Instead, wait for at least 30 minutes to allow the calcium in your saliva to re-mineralize your teeth.
Also, use a soft toothbrush, fluoridated toothpaste and avoid brushing your teeth aggressively.
Learn more from a related post: How Often Should I Brush My Teeth?
-
Rinse Your Mouth
Rinsing your mouth with water after a glass of lemon juice helps you wash the acid and reduce the negative impact of the lemon on your teeth.
Alternatively, chewing sugar-free gum after drinking lemon helps produce more saliva which reduces the acidity in your mouth.
In addition, it would be best to avoid concentrated, commercial lemon juices. Instead, use juice from a fresh lemon or drops of lemon essential oil.
What is Lemon Good For?
With all its negative effects on your dental health, lemon also has many advantages for your health. Lemon has vitamin C, which is essential for tissue growth and repair.
Its antioxidant nature prevents aging and health problems like cancer and heart diseases.
Further, it stimulates digestive enzymes and helps with digestion. People also use it for weight loss. It is a good cleaning agent and is used to clean your skin.
Summary
While there are many benefits of lemon juice for your body, it is harmful to your teeth. Its acidic nature causes enamel erosion and an exposed dentil. This makes you vulnerable to hypersensitivity and cavities.
However, there are measures by which you can minimize the effect of lemon. You can use a straw to avoid contact between acidic juice and enamel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Tooth Erosion be Reversed?
The answer is ‘no.’ The process of tooth erosion is irreversible, which implies that your enamel will not grow back. However, you can prevent them from further erosion by taking proper treatment.
Consult your doctor and take the most suitable treatment and help you to prevent further enamel erosion.
Can I Drink Soda After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Drinking soda may lead to several dental problems. You should not drink soda for at least one week after wisdom teeth removal. Different doctors have different opinions, but it is best to avoid such carbonated drinks till you get completely recovered.
Also, avoid having solid foods and hot beverages like coffee.
Can You Drink Coffee After Wisdom Teeth Removal?
Yes, you can drink coffee after wisdom teeth removal, but do not consume hot coffee for 48 hours after your surgery.
Till that time, you can drink coffee after letting it get cool down. Take a small dosage at first, and once the swelling goes away and you feel comfortable, you can have a normal dosage of your favorite beverage.
Does Coffee Permanently Stain Teeth?
The tannins ingredient found in coffee can cause color compounds to stick on your teeth. These compound sticks leave unwanted yellow hues that cause tooth discoloration.
Fortunately, these compounds can’t permanently stain your teeth with proper dental hygiene ( brushing twice a day and occasional trips to your dentist ). Also, drink coffee in moderation and avoid sugar since it enhances the growth of discoloring bacteria.