Khloe Kardashian, Jennifer Aniston, Lauren Conrad, Giselle Bundchen, Miranda Kerr and are just some of the celebrities who have said they enjoy fresh lemon juice squeezed into hot water as a healthy drink. It has been claimed that warm lemon water can help you to lose weight, boost the immune system and aid digestion. But at what cost? Could this drink be damaging to your teeth?
Although lemon juice is a great source of vitamin C, it is also very acidic and over time can cause acid erosion of your tooth’s enamel. Lemon water sweetened with sugar increases the risk of tooth decay still further. So how can you take part in the lemon water trend without causing damage to your teeth?
Here are some tips to keep your teeth healthy whilst still enjoying this trend:
- Brush your teeth before drinking the lemon water.
- Use the juice from a fresh lemon, rather than the concentrated, commercial lemon juices like Jif.
- Drink through a paper straw to minimise contact with your teeth’s enamel.
- Drink it quickly, rather than sipping.
- Rinse your mouth with still water after drinking your lemon water, please note do not use carbonated water as this is also acidic as it contains carbonic acid.
- Wait one hour before you brush your teeth after drinking to allow the calcium in your saliva to remineralise your teeth.
All acidic beverages have the potential to erode the enamel on your teeth, such as:
- Citrus fruits
- Fruit juices
- Soda, including diet soda and sparkling water.
- Some wines
To prevent potential damage to your teeth, consume these drinks occasionally instead of daily and follow the above preventative tips.
We look forward to seeing you at your next preventative appointment.
Contact Christchurch Dental on 01473 250977 to book.
