Lemonade is one of the most popular drinks in the world, and it seems like everyone has an opinion about it. Some people love it, some hate it, and others don’t really feel any particular way about it.
If you have braces on your teeth, though, you may find yourself searching online for “can I drink lemonade with braces?” of course, you can drink lemonade. However, there are some limitations to what you can eat and drink when you have braces on your teeth, and lemonade is one of them.
You see, lemonade is made by mixing water with lemon juice and sugar in various ratios, depending on what you want your end result to be like. Either way, the drink does contain citric acid, and if you have metal braces, you may experience adverse effects.
What Happens if You Drink Lemonade with Braces?
As previously mentioned, lemonade contains citric acid. For some people, the taste is too tart, and they add sugar to make it more palatable. However, that may be a recipe for disaster for people who have braces.
Here’s what’s likely to happen when you drink lemonade with braces on.
Your Braces May Rust
If you’re not careful, drinking lemonade with braces can cause your braces to rust — especially if you have metal braces. The acidity in lemonade can cause the metal to corrode, causing your braces to fall off.
Your Teeth May Fall Out
The citric acid contained in lemon juice damages tooth enamel over time and makes it more prone to chipping away from excessive brushing and chewing on hard foods like candy bars or nuts — especially if you’re wearing braces at the same time.
You May Experience Tooth Sensitivity
The citric acid in lemonade can irritate your teeth. The acid also makes your mouth more acidic, which can cause erosion of the enamel on your teeth. This, in turn, can cause tooth sensitivity, which is a common problem among people who drink a lot of acidic beverages.
Is Lemon Juice a Good Option?
Lemon juice is a good option for those with braces because it is not as potent. The acidity in lemonade is higher and can therefore weaken the enamel on your teeth as well as corrode your braces. While lemon juice contains citric acid as well, it is better for your braces because it is diluted with water.
As such, if you really want to have a tangy drink but still maintain the integrity of your braces and the health of your teeth, it would be better to drink lemon juice.
How Often is it Safe to Drink Lemonade with Braces?
Lemonade is a great summer drink, but because of its acidic content, it is not so good for people with braces.
Now, how often you can safely have the drink largely depends on the kind of braces you have and how they’re attached to your teeth. If you wear metal braces, then you should minimize your intake of the drink and even avoid it altogether.
This is because the drink can damage your braces by causing them to corrode. This can lead to other issues like injury to your gums and, ultimately, gum infection. As such, you want to limit your intake to once a week or even once a fortnightly.
If you wear aligners, on the other hand, then that’s a different story. Since they are made from plastic, you don’t have to worry about corrosion. That then means you can have lemonade more frequently. Don’t overdo it, though, because the citric acid can still weaken your teeth over time as it corrodes enamel.
Tips for Drinking Lemonade with Braces
If you want to enjoy some lemonade with your braces, here are several tips that will help you make sure you’re getting all the good stuff while still maintaining your dental health.
Dilute it
If you’re going to be drinking a lot of lemonade and want to avoid weakening your teeth and braces, diluting it will make it less acidic and less likely to corrode your teeth. While at it, you may want to use seltzer water or just plain water instead of regular soda.
This is because the former doesn’t contain as much sugar, which, when combined with citric acid, can be disastrous for your braces and teeth.
Use a Straw
When you drink lemonade with braces, you want to use a straw and make sure that it is long enough to reach all the way down your mouth without touching your braces. This will help ensure that the drink doesn’t get onto your braces to wreak havoc.
To reduce the chances of your drink coming into contact with your braces even more, consider using a straw that has a bend in it.
Drink it at Intervals
One of the best ways to retain the integrity of your braces while drinking lemonade is by taking small sips throughout the day. If you’re going to be drinking lemonade all day, it’s probably best to avoid drinking it in one sitting.
Instead, try two or three small sips throughout the day to reduce contact with your braces.
Chew Gum After
If you go ahead and have a glass of lemonade, you may want to chew gum after. Not only will this help eliminate the aftertaste, but it will also reduce the citric acid content that may be sticking to your teeth and braces.
Brush or Rinse with Water After
You want to brush your teeth thoroughly after drinking lemonade and don’t do it with just a brush, either. Go all in with toothpaste and mouthwash to ensure that there are no traces of citric acid left.
This is a simple and easy way to ensure that the acid in your drink doesn’t react with your braces to cause corrosion and other dental issues.
If you are unable to do this right away, probably because you are at a restaurant, make sure that you rinse your mouth with a lot of water. While this will not entirely rid you of the citric acid in your mouth, it will reduce its potency.