Rinsing with lemon juice can erode tooth enamel, and brushing immediately afterward can worsen the damage. Although baking soda has antibacterial properties, it does not eliminate the substances that cause bad breath, dentist Rita Cruz de Souza warned in an interview with Sapo.
According to the expert, lemon juice is dangerous because of its high acidity. With regular contact, the acid reduces the mineral content of the surface layer of the tooth, making the enamel more vulnerable and contributing to erosion. Brushing immediately after rinsing with an acidic solution can further damage the softened enamel surface.
“Baking soda works differently. It has antibacterial properties, but this is not enough to eliminate the cause of bad breath. "Therefore, the use of a soda solution does not replace proper oral hygiene and treatment of diseases that cause bad breath," the specialist warned.
The dentist also noted that there is still no convincing evidence that salt rinses are effective against what causes bad breath.
