Could Your Morning Detox be Ruining Your Teeth

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If you’re one of the many people who follow the example of celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston or Gwyneth Paltrow and start your day with a detox solution of hot water and lemon, dentists have warned that you may be putting your oral health at risk.

In recent years, a number of healthy diet fads have become popular and drinking a warm solution of water and lemon has become a staple way to start the day for many. Although there are benefits to be enjoyed, such as hydration, soothing an upset tummy and kick-starting metabolic processes, dentists are warning that this particular measure could also result in dental decay.

The problem is that lemons are highly acidic and acids contribute to erosion of the protective enamel layer of the tooth. Once this enamel coating is worn or thin, it is very difficult to rebuild and restore and the tooth becomes vulnerable to decay and injury.

Professor Damien Walmsley, scientific adviser at the British Dental Association, claims that acidic drinks are a major cause of decay and lemons with hot water is a particularly damaging solution. The lower the pH value, the more profound the impact and lemons have a pH of around 2-3. When combined with hot water, the effects are even worse as the heat increases the speed and severity of erosion.

Dr Nigel Carter OBE, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, supported Professor Walmsley’s comments, stating that lemon is highly acidic and therefore detrimental to dental health. He added that dental erosion is an increasingly prevalent problem in the UK, with more and more dentists seeing cases of severe erosion, often in young children and teenagers. The main cause of this is drinking sugary and acidic fizzy drinks, juices and energy drinks.

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