If you want whiter teeth, then you may look at at-home recipes and DIY techniques that can be used to remove dental stains. While you may not need a professional whitening, there are some types of treatments that can do more harm than good. Using lemon juice to whiten the teeth is one of these harmful methods. Keep reading to learn why the lemon juice is bad for the teeth and what you should be using instead.

Why Is Lemon Juice Bad for the Teeth?

Lemon juice can whiten the teeth by dissolving and disrupting the debris that sits in the crevices of the tooth enamel. The juice does this because of its high acid content and low pH. The pH of the lemon juice is about 2.3. In comparison, vinegar has a pH of 2.4. 

The problem is that the citric acid within the lemon juice is likely to leach the calcium out of the dental enamel while removing stains. This can cause substantial tooth weakness and lead to discoloration in the long run.

Lemon juice is sometimes even mixed with baking soda to create a tooth-whitening cream. This is even worse for the teeth. As the lemon juice leaches calcium and causes the enamel to soften, the baking soda works as a scrub and can contribute to the pitting of the teeth.

Keep in mind that lemon juice can cause almost immediate damage, so even a single whitening with lemon juice can cause substantial harm.

Is There a Good Alternative to Lemon Juice?

Since there are so many different tooth-whitening recipes online, it only makes sense that there is likely a good alternative to the use of lemon juice to remove dental stains.

It is wise to skip all of the dental treatments that contain an acidic ingredient. This means that strawberry-whitening solutions, as well as grapefruit ones, should be avoided.

You can safely use a scrub to whiten the teeth, and this is one of the best methods for use at home. Scrubs that contain either sea salt or baking soda can both work to remove the tough stains from the teeth, and you can mix these ingredients together with a bit of water if you want. If you decide to do this, then you should use the scrub only on occasion. Brushing gently once a week with your concoction is wise. However, if you notice any tooth sensitivity, then it is best to stop using your recipe and speak with your dentist instead.

To learn more about teeth whitening, talk to your dental professional today.