Lemon Juice for Whitening Teeth

Lemon

Teeth can become stained and discolored from years of drinking coffee, soda, or tea, or from smoking. Fluoride treatments can also cause teeth to develop a motley series of spots and splotches. Lemon juice is a commonly suggested method for whitening your teeth without having to resort to over-the-counter chemical tooth whiteners. Unfortunately, the acid in lemon juice can damage your teeth.

Avoid using lemon to whiten your teeth

Method

The recommended method is to brush your teeth with lemon juice. This is not a recommended procedure as the acid in lemon juice will dissolve enamel over time. In the short term it can also make teeth extremely sensitive.

Why It's Not a Good Remedy

Lemon juice contains citric acid. When you apply lemon juice to your teeth, it erodes the enamel on the surface of the teeth. This may temporarily remove stains. But over time, the acid may erode the enamel until it exposes the yellow dentin underneath. The teeth may become sensitive to hot and cold temperatures or to certain kinds of foods

Precautions

If you choose to use lemon juice to whiten your teeth, be sure to rinse the juice off after brushing and don't do it frequently. Always consult a dentist before putting anything into your mouth.

More Remedies

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