by Lemon water is very simple – it is basically plain water soaked in fresh lemon juice and some optional ice cubes – but there is no doubt that it can be extremely tasty in the summer (or after a sweaty workout), as it gives a basic water a worthy of taste enhancement.
Many of us resort to lemon water as a hassle-free way to boost our hydration intake first thing in the morning or during the day. A squeeze of juice and a note of zest can make drinking water much more attractive, right? This is doubly true for those of us who think a normal tap is a little too soft on its own — and therefore struggling to retain enough fluids to meet our daily needs. IMHO, it’s pretty hard to find an excuse not to drink water all day when you have a delicious icy jug of lemon water in the fridge that shouts your name.
How does lemon water affect teeth, gums and general dental health?
1. Lemon water can boost saliva production and freshen the breath
The main benefit of lemon water is both the simplest and the most important. As mentioned, its attractive taste (and lack of sugar or caffeine) can help hydrate and our body can not function at the best possible level without adequate fluid intake, including the mouth. “Hydration is the key to good saliva production, and the most protective natural treatment for tooth decay is a well-hydrated mouth,” says Rhonda Kalasho, DDS and CEO of TruGlo Modern Dental of Beverly Hills. “And because lemon is naturally acidic, it has natural antiseptic properties. This means that it helps kill certain bacteria in the mouth, which of course helps to get rid of the stench and freshen the breath.”
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2. The acidity of water with lemon can soften the enamel on your teeth, which can lead to yellowing, caries and tenderness in the teeth and gums.
However, according to Dr. Kalasho, there are also some disadvantages of consuming lemon water in terms of oral hygiene. “The acidity of lemon water can damage teeth, gums and enamel in the long run, unless you take a few simple steps to reduce damage and protect your teeth from corrosion, decay or yellowing,” he says. .
To be more specific, lemon water can soften the enamel on your teeth over time when consumed consistently. “This is because anything acidic in your diet mineralizes your teeth, which causes the enamel to soften,” says dentist Sharon Huang, DDS, MICOI and founder of Les Belles NYC. He says the same goes for other acidic foods and drinks: Coffee, tomato sauces, wine, etc.
Once the enamel is too soft, Dr. Huang says it can cause your teeth to turn yellow, as well as increase the risk of tooth decay and tenderness in the teeth and gums. “Drinking through a straw as soon as you finish the water with lemon will help keep the enamel in your pearly whites. When you drink through a straw, the acidic drink partially bypasses your teeth, which helps prevent corrosion. of acidity in your enamel. “, recommends Dr. Huang.” And then rinse your mouth immediately with water as soon as you are done. “
3. The acidity of lemon water can increase the risk of tooth decay, but this only happens in extreme cases.
Studies have shown that very acidic drinks can lead to tooth decay, but this only happens in extreme cases. “Tooth enamel is made of hydroxapetite, which is a crystalline structure that can be easily broken down by an acid, and when the enamel breaks down it becomes more porous, and therefore soft and brittle, which can lead to breakage or corrosion.” Says Kalasos.
According to Dr. Huang, anything with a pH value of less than five and a half can harm your oral health. “Lemon juice also has a pH between two and three, which means it is extremely acidic,” he says. “Unfortunately, you can not reverse the damage, as the body can not regenerate the enamel.”
How to prevent lemon water from damaging your pearly whites
Having said that, if you drink lemon water occasionally, both dentists confirm that neither of this information is something to lose your sleep. It is more important for those who drink it all day or do not dilute their drink sufficiently.
“It’s possible, but very “Rarely, that you will see holes or chips in the teeth from drinking water with lemon”, says Dr. Kalasho. “The exception is if you drink water with lemon that is slightly diluted – which means a high ratio of lemon juice to H2O – extremely often, sucking lemons or brushing your teeth with lemon water all the time. “Lemon straight on your teeth every day is much more harmful than water with lemon.” any adverse effects on the enamel.
In addition, remember the advice of Dr. Huang on putting a straw and rinsing your mouth with water after you finish the H2O glass with lemon infusion to prevent the drink from softening the enamel on your teeth.
However, while rinsing right after a sip is great, Dr. Huang says avoid brushing. “You should wait at least 30 minutes after drinking lemon water before brushing your teeth to give your mouth enough time to produce enough saliva to neutralize the desalination on your teeth,” he says. Otherwise, the brushing motion and the bristles on your toothbrush will be very abrasive on your teeth after exposure to lemon water. Dr. Huang also recommends not skimping on flossing and brushing twice a day to maintain ideal oral hygiene.
Finally, you can try using a floss, as they are excellent oral hygiene tools that clean food deposits in the teeth and help neutralize residual acids that may have stuck between the teeth or around the gums. Using high-pressure water will be more effective, advises Dr. Huang.
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