Can you drink lemon water with acid reflux

• Drinking lemon water has its benefits, but in excess, it can cause some damaging side effects.
• Too much lemon water can also lead to tooth decay, heartburn, and other reflux-related symptoms.
• If you drink lemon water at restaurants, it's best to leave the rind out to avoid germs and bacteria.
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Lemon water is touted by some experts and celebrities for its long list of benefits, including preventing dehydration, assisting with digestion, and supporting weight loss.

But consuming too much of the acidic drink can come with harmful side effects, especially if you're prone to reflux or add copious quantities of lemon juice to your water.

Here are six dangerous things that can happen when you drink too much lemon water:

Editor's note: Most of these would take quite a large consumption of lemon juice before becoming a problem.

It can damage your teeth.

Since lemons are highly acidic, frequent exposure can erode your tooth enamel, according to the American Dental Association. 

If that doesn't convince you to totally ditch lemon water, at least try to drink it out of a straw to cut down on the direct acid exposure on your teeth.

You should also avoid brushing your teeth right after consuming lemon water and drink plenty of plain water along with your citrus-infused beverages.

Lemon water can cause heartburn, nausea, and vomiting. Milos Dimic/Getty Images

Although lemon water's wide range of benefits often centers on gut health, according to Medical News Today, squeezing too much in your water can worsen common maladies like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and acid reflux. 

GERD and acid reflux are triggered by acidic foods, including lemons. Symptoms include heartburn, nausea, and vomiting.

Lemon skins serve as a host for unpleasant germs.

You may want to steer clear of putting lemon wedges in your water when you're at a restaurant.

In a 2007 study from the Journal of Environmental Health, researchers tested 76 lemon samples from 21 different restaurants during 43 visits and found that many of the lemons contained microorganisms, including some pathogenic ones that may cause diseases. However, the authors noted that there haven't been any diseases or outbreaks linked to lemons.

If the idea of a germy lemon still makes your stomach turn, you can squeeze the lemon into your drink instead of dropping the whole wedge in. And if you see employees handling lemons with their bare hands, it might be best to stick to plain water. 

The acidity of lemon water may cause or worsen canker sores.

Although most canker sores will clear up on their own within a week or two, drinking too much lemon water has the potential to exacerbate existing canker sores, according to the American Dental Association.

If you find yourself getting canker sores after consuming acidic foods or drinks — including lemon water — you may want to cut back on potential irritants.

Citrus fruits may be a trigger for migraine sufferers.

Some studies over the years have investigated a possible connection between migraines and citrus fruits.

Lemons, limes, and oranges are all relatively high tyramine — a natural monoamine that's been linked to headaches — compared to other fruits.

Although no direct link between lemon water and headaches has been found, some people who get chronic migraines may identify citrus fruits as a trigger. If you suffer from frequent migraines, doctors recommend keeping a headache diary to learn what may be setting off the attacks.

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