August 2013 - Ryan Perry, DDS

Recently, I read on a website that mixing lemon juice and baking soda and rubbing it on your teeth for a couple of weeks makes them whiter. I did this a couple of days ago and earlier today, I heard that lemon juice is really bad for your teeth and decays your enamel. I’ve only done it twice. When I made the mixture, I only had it on my teeth for a minute and then brushed my teeth regularly. After discovering this information about the bad effects of this mixture, I will not be whitening my teeth this way. Do you think I caused permanent damage to my teeth?

– Jane from Louisiana

Jane,
It’s good to hear that you did follow-up research on lemon juice and teeth whitening. Lemon juice is highly acidic and if used on teeth over time, causes erosion of the tooth enamel leading to tooth decay. Citric acid found in lemon juice is a powerful agent. Did you know it can be used to scour limescale from boilers and in a higher concentration form it removes hard water stains from glass without any scrubbing motion?

Citric acid is not only found in cleaning products but also soda. This is why your dentist or dental hygienist tells you to limit your intake of soda. Those who drink soda on a daily basis are more prone to tooth decay and tooth erosion.

It’s an important thing to remember to never brush your teeth within 30 minutes after consuming liquids or foods that contain citric acid as well as ascorbic acid which is also found in sodas. Teeth are attacked by the acid which causes the enamel and underlying layer dental to erode. When you brush right away, it can accelerate the process by pushing the acid further into the tooth layers. The best thing you can do is neutralize the acid in your mouth by drinking water after consuming acidic products.

If you want to whiten your teeth, it’s best to visit your dentist and see if you are a good candidate for teeth whitening. The best, safest, and most effective way to get a brighter smile is have a dental health professional take care of you.

To learn more, visit Dr. Ryan Perry’s website, Baton Rouge Family Dentist

I’m writing you because my mother has gingivitis and I believe it stems from periodontitis. Over a week ago, she felt extreme tooth pain at the back of her mouth. Twenty-four hours later, she began to suffer from a fever and body aches.

My mother visited her dentist and was told that part of the bone at the back of her mouth has been eaten away. Luckily for her, it was caught early and she didn’t lose her molar. The dentist removed the bacteria, applied oral medicine, prescribed antibiotics, cleaned her mouth and told her to make another appointment for scaling.

Is this is a severe case of periodontitis and has the bone loss been stopped? Also, with the fever and other issues, will this affect her body systems like her heart, etc? I read periodontal disease may cause many health issues. What can be done now?

– Theresa from Louisiana

Theresa,
To answer your question, periodontal disease stems from gingivitis left untreated over a period of time. To educate you a little further, gingivitis happens when the gums bleed easily, become tender, red and swollen. Gingivitis occurs when people lack in their brushing and flossing techniques. If people don’t attend to regular brushing, flossing and cleanings, periodontal disease (gum disease) will happen. Periodontal disease if left untreated, leads to tooth loss.

Your mother’s dentist cleaned around one tooth that was painful but also recommended that your mother get scaling done as well.

Root planing and scaling is recommended to remove debris and bacteria from under the gums on the teeth surfaces in order to prevent the disease from destroying bone around the teeth. Infection must be removed or tooth loss will happen. Without dental x-rays, a clinical exam, and measuring depths of the pockets, it’s a challenge to determine how severe your mother’s periodontal disease is.

If periodontal disease is left untreated, tooth loss may occur and this disease may cause fever as well as affect the heart, diabetes, lung and respiratory system.

We recommend that you speak to your mother’s dentist to determine the severity of the disease and treat it properly to prevent dental and health issues from occurring.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Perry

Does Lemon Juice Work Well to Whiten Teeth?

What are the Dangers of Periodontal Disease?

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