Squeezing a lemon into a tall glass of H20 or mixing some lemon juice into hot water is a good healthy hack to add a little flavor to your hydration. However, dentists warn that citrus water of any kind—orange, grapefruit, lime, or lemon juice—can harm your teeth by eroding your enamel. “Erosion is the loss of tooth enamel, caused most commonly by acid attack. When the enamel is worn away, it exposes the underlying dentin—which is yellower in color than enamel—and this may cause you to experience tooth sensitivity,” explain the experts at Ethos Orthodontics in Australia. “Acidic foods and drinks can cause enamel erosion. As your enamel erodes, it becomes thinner, and this allows the yellower dentine that lies below the enamel to be more visible through the enamel.” This may cause your teeth to appear indented and more yellow and feel a bit more coarse against your tongue. According to Watts Family Dental in Overland Park, Kansas, weakened enamel is one of the leading causes of tooth sensitivity and can put you at higher risk for cavities and other dental damage. Lemon juice’s acid content is higher than many of the drinks we often associate with dental damage including, soda, wine, coffee, and tea, Watts Family Dental points out. And for more on the importance of oral hygiene, This Is What Happens If You Don’t Brush Your Teeth for a Day, Study Shows Lemon water is delicious and good for you, so you shouldn’t have to give it up on account of your teeth. To help mitigate damage, the dentist’s office of Cusumano & Stuver in Arlington, Virginia, suggests you brush your teeth before drinking lemon water; use juice from a fresh lemon rather than concentrated, commercial juices; drink through a straw; and rinse your mouth with regular water after drinking. And for more on how to keep your teeth healthy, check out If You Only Brush Your Teeth Once a Day, This Is When You Should Do It. While hot water with lemon may be best for a scratchy throat, Ethos Orthodontics notes that “the rate of chemical reactions increases with temperature and therefore erosion will be more severe at higher temperatures.” So consider drinking cold lemon water instead of hot.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb And for more useful health tips delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. Brushing your teeth before drinking lemon water is helpful, but doing so after could make the situation worse. “Once your enamel has been weakened by acidic substances like lemon juice, it needs time to recover,” explain the pros at Luminous Dentistry in Australia. “This means you should wait at least 30 minutes after drinking or eating acidic drink or food to prevent brushing your enamel away accidentally.” And for more ways to keep your mouth healthy, This Is How Often You Should Really Change Your Toothbrush, Dentists Say.
