Organic compounds called tannins are found in coffee and tea, and when they have a chance to build up, they can stain healthy teeth. Coffee and teeth are also both acidic drinks (coffee more than tea), which has the negative side effect of weakening tooth enamel.
However, tea—especially black tea like Earl Grey or English Breakfast blends—contain high levels of chromogens, tannins, and acids, all of which make tea bad for your teeth. contribute to staining teeth and eroding enamel, the hard, thin, transparent coating that protects your teeth.
Both drinks are also high in acid, which can cause the enamel to soften, allowing the tannins to have an easier surface to stick to. So which drink goes easier on your teeth? The answer is: Coffee. Tea has higher levels of both acid and tannins, resulting in more teeth stains.
Use a straw
When drinking from a cup, the liquid washes over the teeth before swallowing. Using a straw to drink beverages like coffee, tea or soda significantly minimizes the staining effect.
Green and white teas are the best types of tea for your teeth. Green, white, and black tea all have a lot of antioxidants, which help fight cavity-causing bacteria and reduce inflammation in your gums, but black tea will stain your teeth yellow over time. Green and white tea, on the other hand, won't.
Sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks, iced and sweet teas, and fruit juices all have high acid levels. Most of these drinks also contain sugar, which has the potential to be doubly damaging to teeth.
That cup of tea could be staining your teeth! How does adding milk to your teeth reduce staining? The study revealed that adding a splash of milk to tea can reduce its ability to stain teeth. Casein, a protein found in milk, attaches to these tannin molecules and prevents them from sticking to your teeth.
Tea contains tannin, a yellow or brownish substance found in plants that gives tea its color. It can also stain your teeth. To help reduce this, brush your teeth or rinse your mouth after drinking tea. Sweet or acidic add-ins can erode your teeth and make you more prone to cavities.
“It's recommended to brush your teeth last thing at night and at least one other time during the day,” says Coates. “Most people will do this in the morning, although this should be at least 30 minutes before having food or drink or about an hour after.”
Drinking tea can cause lasting discoloration of your teeth. That said, it's possible to reduce staining through good healthy oral care habits. At home, the simple act of brushing your teeth regularly can help. Brushing twice a day is good but brushing immediately after you drink a cup of tea is even better.
Organic compounds called tannins are found in coffee and tea, and when they have a chance to build up, they can stain healthy teeth. Coffee and teeth are also both acidic drinks (coffee more than tea), which has the negative side effect of weakening tooth enamel.
While tea itself doesn't cause cavities, the ingredients added to it can. Take sugar for example. If you add sugar to your tea, then the sugar can increase your risk of cavities. Honey is another example.
Black teas and dark coffees are the biggest culprits when it comes to teas. In fact, some black teas can even cause more tooth discoloration than coffee!
Try non-acidic foods: Certain foods are good for your enamel. Many types of fruits and vegetables, dairy products such as milk, and foods or drinks containing fluoride – notably spinach, grapes and black tea – will be useful to naturally restore enamel.
Brushing your teeth before drinking will not cause your teeth to absorb the tea more. The exception to that is after having dental work done. While your toothpaste won't open the tubules on your teeth, the teeth whitening procedure will.
While chamomile tea is a good beverage to drink at night, it can still stain the teeth. By adding a little milk, it will reduce issues with discoloration and help you fall asleep. Just make sure you wait about an hour to brush your teeth. Brushing too soon can hurt the enamel.
Brushing should always be done BEFORE breakfast
Bacteria begin to metabolize sugars into acids almost instantly. Bacterial biofilms in your mouth have been maturing overnight in a reduced saliva environment gearing up for sugars in the morning.
Don't eat or drink anything except water after brushing at night. This also gives fluoride the longest opportunity to work. Once you've brushed, don't rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash – you're washing away the fluoride! This can be a difficult habit to break, but can reduce tooth decay by up to 25%.
You Can't Go Wrong with Milk, Water, or Tea
Bottled water with added minerals contains calcium phosphate, an important element to help strengthen tooth enamel. Water from your faucet is full of fluoride that also strengthens teeth and does a good job at removing food particles.
The mealtime beverage also helps to wash away food particles on teeth. The best beverage choices include water (especially fluoridated water) and unsweetened tea. Limit your consumption of sugar-containing drinks, including soft drinks, lemonade, and coffee or tea with added sugar.
Milk. Next to water, milk is the healthiest drink for your teeth. It protects tooth enamel, contains vitamins and calcium and can actually reduce tooth decay. You could even let some chocolate milk slide now and then (just be cautious of the amount of sugar).
1. Soda – The worst soft drinks for your teeth might surprise you. Soda in general is horrible for your teeth. In fact, consuming any carbonated and heavily sugar-laden soda regularly can cause as much damage to your teeth as using cocaine or meth.
Fruit Juices
Citrus-based juices like orange, grapefruit, lemon, and lime will be the most acidic. However, fruits like cranberries, raspberries, strawberries, and apples also contain various amounts of acid. If you regularly drink juice, it will start to dissolve your enamel and weaken your teeth.
Sugar sweetened beverages have high levels of sugar and drinking these can significantly contribute to tooth decay. Regular and 'diet' soft drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, fruit juices, fruit drinks and cordials also have high acid levels that can cause tooth erosion.
If you're worried about the Tannin content in tea, you should know that green tea or black tea contain low levels of tannins, and are suitable for those who wish to consume non-tannic tea. Darjeeling first flush teas contain little to no tannins.