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Can Lemon Reduce Saliva?

Published in Saliva Production 1 min read

Actually, lemon can increase saliva production, at least initially. Here's a breakdown:

According to research, lemon juice doesn't reduce saliva, but rather stimulates it. The key is understanding the duration of the effect.

Here's what we know from the provided reference:

  • Initial Salivary Flow: Lemon juice leads to a higher salivary flow in the very first minute compared to yogurt.
  • Sustained Release: Yogurt, however, promotes sustained release of saliva for a longer time (from 2 to 5 minutes) than lemon juice.
Substance Salivary Flow (First Minute) Sustained Saliva Release (2-5 Minutes)
Lemon Juice Higher Lower
Yogurt Lower Higher

Therefore, while lemon might provide a quick burst of saliva, it doesn't offer the long-lasting salivary stimulation that yogurt does. So, thinking of lemon as a saliva reducer isn't accurate. In the short term, it does the opposite.

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