Dentists warn on the impact of breakfast juice

It’s certainly been a craze among health and wellness celebrities – but could lemon water in the morning do more harm than good? Dentists are warning that there are dangers to this drink that consumers should be aware of.

Lemon water in the morning has become extremely popular with the likes of Beyonce and Jennifer Aniston, who praise its virtues. It has been touted as a simple remedy for improving our health and offers a number of benefits.

As a source of vitamin C and antioxidants, this drink is also thought to include improved digestion, skin hydration and better immunity, while offering a healthier alternative to sugary drinks. Indeed, it has been established in Ayurvedic healing for centuries.

There is, however, a big but. Dentists have cautioned lemon water could be harmful to teeth if not consumed correctly. One specialist, Dr Stephanie Dumanian, claims it can be damaging to enamel in the morning because people tend to brush their teeth immediately afterwards. The effect of this is brushing acid into your teeth, which is entirely counter-productive.

Instead, she suggests brushing prior to drinking lemon water and then waiting for approximately 25 minutes before brushing or rinsing with water. Other methods also include drinking through a straw to avoid staining – an approach that can also be applied with coffee.

When cleaning your teeth, it is recommended you brush them with fluoride toothpaste twice a day to head off plaque buildup, but if you have any doubts you should contact a dentist. Patients getting dentures or dental implants in Chester should consult our specialist Art of Dental Care team to get professional advice on teeth maintenance and avoiding drink-derived stains.