Love lemons?
Drinking lemon squeezed in warm water is a morning ritual followed by many people. But there’s a few very important things to keep in mind if you love lemons.
Lemon water on rising may have many benefits -
The vitamin c content of lemons assists with the absorption of other vitamins and mineral such as iron.
Lemon water on rising is a great way to encourage a morning glass of water to kick start the day and flush out toxins.
The bitterness of lemons appeal to the liver, assist with bile secretion and digestion.
Once digested and metabolised, lemons may have an alkalising effect within the body helping to maintain acid/alkaline balance.
The sour effect of lemon increases saliva production helping to assist with dry mouth.
However, lemon is very acidic with a pH of around 2! Compare this with stomach acid with a pH of around 1 and you can understand why a dentist doesn’t want lemon coming into contact with your teeth. Lemons in water saturate your teeth with citric acid which can cause harm to your enamel. Other morning drinks that can cause damage include fruit juices, apple cider vinegar and kombucha.
So, if you’re set on lemons, the following tips can help reduce the wear on your enamel (and still proceed with caution) -
Drink your diluted lemon water through a straw (a reusable one of course) to reduce the surface exposure to your enamel and then rinse your mouth with water straight away.
After drinking, don’t brush for 30 minutes. This gives the saliva time to remineralise and build up a protective barrier so there is less damage to your enamel when you brush.
Be mindful of what you’re eating or drinking within this half hour period. If you’re drinking coffee or consuming other acidic foods such as juice, there will be more potential for enamel destruction.
Don’t sip your lemon water over a long period of time.
Very importantly, have your dentist monitor your mouth every 6 months. They can see much further inside your mouth than you can and pick up on any warning signs before they become an issue.
