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I was told that using lemon juice on my teeth every day when I brushed would help whiten them. It seemed to be working at first, but they seem to be worse than they were before. Do you know if there is a certain method to this?
Andrea
Dear Andrea,
I am glad you wrote. It is actually the lemon that is the problem. I’m not sure who told you to use lemon juice when brushing your teeth, but they have not done you any favors. Lemon is a citrus, which is quite acidic. If you use it on your teeth, it will start off by making your teeth look a bit whiter because the acid will scrub off the stains, but it also etches your enamel, which then makes your teeth pick up stains faster. It’s a bit like what happens to patients who are bulimic. The acid from when they purge eats away at their teeth until there is hardly any enamel left.
I’m going to suggest that you stop using the lemon juice. The safest way to truly whiten your teeth is to do it with professional teeth whitening.
I would see a dentist either way in order to have your enamel checked out. It would have taken a lot of brushing with the juice to do as much damage as would occur with bulimia. If your enamel is very damaged, then there are cosmetic procedures which could both whiten your teeth and protect your enamel. The best cosmetic procedure is porcelain veneers. However, it is for more than just whitening. It would be more for a complete smile makeover which can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth all at the same time. If you want less than that, then I would talk to a good cosmetic dentist about your other options.
If you’re in Auburn, AL and want to talk through whether whitening or a more protective cosmetic option makes the most sense, the team at Auburn Dental can help you figure out your next step.
