Lemon Water - Is it bad for your teeth?

Squeezing lemon in a glass of water or slicing up lemon in your water bottle – we've all done it & we've all enjoyed it. It's refreshing, nutritious, an excellent source of Vitamin C, helps with digestion, boosts immunity, provides antioxidants, and so much more!

In recent years, the popularity of lemon water has drastically increased, perhaps due to the rumors floating around social media which state that lemon water aids in weight loss. Other reasons include lemon water is less boring than plain water, drinking lemon water distracts you from drinking Coke, sugary juices, coffee, etc.

All of the above are valid reasons for you to drink lemon water everyday. Thus, this article isn't going to advise you to stop drinking it altogether, rather give you tips on how you can incorporate lemon in your diet without sacrificing your pearly white teeth.

What is Tooth Erosion?

Tooth erosion is the loss of tooth structure (enamel and dentin), commonly caused by acidic food or drinks. The outer protective layer of teeth is called enamel. Foods and drinks with a pH below 5.5 cause tooth erosion, in other words, acidic foods and drinks will dissolve away your enamel and dentin layers over time.

When the first layer of the tooth (enamel) is worn away, it exposes dentin which can cause tooth sensitivity and discoloration.

Patients often ask, "Is there anything I can do to grow that protective layer of enamel back?" and the answer is, NO. Enamel cannot be "grown back", so you have to protect what you already have for as long as possible.

Negative Impacts of Lemon Water on Teeth

Lemon is an extremely acidic/erosive fruit. Regularly drinking lemon water will lead to:

1) Tooth sensitivity - the outer protective layer of your teeth (enamel) will dissolve away leaving behind a more sensitive layer of dentin. Exposed dentin can sometimes make temperature changes in your mouth extremely uncomfortable and make your overall eating experience a nightmare.

2) Tooth discoloration – The outer enamel layer which gives teeth their whitish appearance will dissolve away due to the acidity, which will expose a yellowy colored dentin layer giving people the illusion that their teeth have become "more yellow" or "stained".

3) Chipping of teeth – The edges of teeth are mostly made up of enamel, and once the enamel starts dissolving away due to acid, it can lead to chipping and/or fracturing of the edges of your teeth.

4) Failed fillings – if you have tooth-coloured fillings (resin composite) then regularly drinking lemon water could have a negative impact on the marginal integrity of those fillings. In simple terms, highly acidic drinks will decrease your fillings' longevity, thus you will find yourself having to replace your fillings more frequently than normal.

How to Drink Lemon Water WITHOUT Damaging Your Teeth?

Try these tips below:

1. Use a STRAW – The best way to avoid tooth erosion is to prevent acid from touching your teeth altogether. Using a straw will give you the best of both worlds – all the health benefits of lemon water and minimal tooth damage.

2. Try drinking COLD lemon water. The rate of chemical reactions increase as the temperature rises and therefore erosion will be more severe for warm lemon water vs cold lemon water.

3. RINSE YOUR MOUTH WITH REGULAR/NON-LEMON WATER - neutralize the oral environment after the acid attack (lemon water). Also, do NOT brush your teeth immediately after drinking lemon water. It's best to wait an hour or 2 before brushing.

4. Use 1-2 drops of LEMON ESSENTIAL OIL instead of LEMON JUICE for your mix – The oil is made from the lemon peel not the fruit, making it less acidic & healthier for your teeth.

Sources

1) Tahmassebi JF, Duggal MS. The effect of different methods of drinking on the pH of dental plaque in vivo. Int J Pediatr Dent. 1997;7(4):249–254.

2) Tahmassebi JF, Duggal MS, Malik-Kotru G, Curzon MEJ. Soft drinks and dental health: a review of the literature. J Dent. 2005;36:1–10.

3) Maganur, P., Satish, V., Prabhakar, A., & Namineni, S. (2015). Effect of Soft Drinks and Fresh Fruit Juice on Surface Roughness of Commonly used Restorative Materials. International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry, 8(1), 1–5. http://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10005-1274

Sanya

Hi, I am Sanya and I am a third year dental student. I am passionate about dentistry and providing excellent patient-care. My hobbies include volunteering, singing, and sharing my insights and knowledge about the field of dentistry and healthcare.