Don’t drink another glass of lemon water before reading this!

Dr Gordon Tam • April 14, 2024

In recent years, lemon water is widely accepted for the benefits that many believed to have. Lemon contains antibacterial, antioxidants properties and it is packed with the essential minerals and vitamins that are helpful for our bodies. It can help to reduce the risk of health issues, boost kidney and skin conditions, fight infections and improve our overall well-being. 

Why does drinking lemon water become a trend?

Lemon water is simply adding freshly juiced lemon to water. The ratio of lemon to water and to consume hot or cold is entirely up to the individual. Such simple concoction has created a big hype among the health-conscious group of people. 

It is believed that when adding lemon to water, it creates a healthy concoction that provides electrolytes and hydration that our body needs. 

Those who want to slim down but do not like to exercise may believe that as lemon is acidic, it will help to curb their appetite, burn fats and eventually slim down without needing to do much exercise. However, lemon water should be used in combination with a healthy diet and an active lifestyle to obtain results.

People who tried many (weight loss) methods had turned to lemon water for solution. 

Naturopaths believe in using natural remedies or solutions to solve their health issues. The choice of lemon is vital. You should be using organic lemons to make sure that the source of lemon is of high quality and not contaminated by any pesticides. 

As the preparation of lemon water is easy and lemon is conveniently sold, many people see this as a healthy beverage they can have easily. 

Have you wondered what happens if you drink lemon water everyday?

Too much of anything is a bad thing. 


Due to lemon’s acidic nature, it corrodes our teeth structure in a prolonged consumption and destroy the natural protective layer of our teeth (enamel). We are not discouraging you from drinking lemon water but consume it with moderation. 


Take note of a few things during and after drinking lemon water.

 

  • Drink through a straw
  • Do not swish with lemon water in the mouth
  • Rinse immediately after drinking 
  • Do not brush your teeth immediately as acid still coats the teeth. Wait for at least 30 minutes before brushing

 

Some of us may even like to chew on lemon wedges, especially frozen ones. Yes it may be tasty to some, but eating lemon directly, without any dilution, you are literally filling your entire mouth with a highly acidic liquid. It hastens the speed of erosion to your teeth and affecting your stomach linings. Lemon water may have some natural health benefits but it may not necessarily be good for your teeth. 

Problems associated with drinking lemon water

Gastric issues & worsening stomach ulcers - gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) is commonly triggered by acidic food. It can cause heartburn, nauseousness, and vomiting. Many people with irregular or imbalanced diet may experience gastric issues that may further triggered by the consumption of lemon water


Teeth sensitivity - as the acidic properties in lemon will corrode our teeth structure, when the enamel coating of our teeth is worn off, our teeth will start to feel sensitive. Unlike other parts of our body, we are unable to repair the enamel layer once it's gone. 


Further damage to teeth structure with existing teeth grinding habit - People with teeth grinding issues are already ‘damaging’ their teeth with daily (nightly) grinding. Drinking lemon water will accelerate the destruction of the teeth structure. 


Pre-existing and/or Teeth erosion issues - It will not only erode our tooth enamel layer, but the entire tooth structure. Some of you may be experiencing pre-existing teeth erosion issues due to our eating habits and wear and tear, the acids in the lemon may aggravate the situation. 


Erode multiple teeth - Effects of erosion from lemon water affects all the teeth in the mouth


Tooth becomes shorter over time - When the tooth got erosion, and damaged the tooth structure, it is more prone to chipping as the structure is weakened. It is more difficult (complicated) and costly to repair. Shorter tooth tends to get sensitive easily. As the tooth gets shorter the damage gets to the nerves faster, resulting in the possibility of a root canal treatment.


Treatments for teeth erosion could be complicated.


As we are trying to restore multiple teeth with teeth erosion issues, it can be complicated and costly. Delay in treatment will further complicate your condition.

For any reasons to drink lemon water on a regular basis, you may want to consider other alternatives rather than risking your teeth to achieve your objectives. If you are already eating lots of fruits and vegetables, taking plenty of fluids, then the lemon water will be of little nutritional benefits. 

You may find out more information from Smile Design Dental Practice on how you can better protect your teeth while keeping yourself healthy.

For more information and consultation, please contact Smile Design Dental Practice at +65 6463 8588.

To serve you better, we are available by Appointment Only. 
Please contact us to schedule for an appointment.

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