Can Sucking on Lemons Damage or Really Dissolve my Teeth?

Can sucking on acidic foods like lemons dissolve my teeth?

The acidity, or degree of how sour the food tastes, is measured on a pH scale of 0 to 14.

A typical mouth normally has a pH of around 6.5-7 which is healthy for our teeth. When the pH of our mouth gets to 5.5 or below, the enamel on our teeth starts to dissolve. But the process is slow and can be reversed if the length and frequency of exposure is small.

Unfortunately, when the length and frequency of exposure to acidic foods is high, irreversible changes to the enamel can occur. This is exacerbated if you have a dry mouth, as saliva is supposed to act as a buffering lubricant. Lack of saliva can make your mouth even more acidic.

So to answer the question, YES! If you have a habit of consistently sucking on lemons and sour foods, your enamel can begin to dissolve causing irreversible damage. It is important that you try to reverse this by rinsing your mouth out (e.g. with water) to dilute the acidity BEFORE brushing your teeth. Brushing right away may cause further abrasion to your acid-etched enamel!

Call Dr. Huang at (703) 532-7586 to see what your options are for your missing teeth. Also, feel free to browse our Services Section to learn more about how we help our clients.