Your smile is one of the first features others might discover about you – and what you drink and eat can impact the appearance of your teeth. Main side effect of drinking a tea is possible staining you teeth. So, why does tea stain your teeth?
A bad diet that is low in nutrients and high in sugar can deteriorate your teeth, along with cause staining. Lots of beverages, such as tea and coffee can also cause damage. Nevertheless, tea might also provide protective benefits. Discover the pros and cons of how tea affects your teeth to help you choose whether this beverage has a place in your diet.
Drinking tea can cause lasting discoloration, but it is possible to reduce staining by developing healthy oral care habits.
Why Do Teeth Become Stained
The reason enamel changes color is often because its surface is thinning. It is porous and easily affected and stained. Over time, the pores become more accessible and the coloring pigments in the food begin to penetrate. As a result, the enamel eventually takes on a yellow or dark brown hue. The surface may thin due to age-related changes or regular consumption of acidic beverages. The active ingredients in liquids directly affect the color of your smile. If liquids can leave stains on your clothes that are difficult to remove, they will also leave a stubborn color on your teeth.
Does Drinking Tea Stain Your Teeth?
Among the primary disadvantages to drinking tea is the staining impact it can have on your teeth. Tea includes a compound called tannic acid, which is what gives it the dark color. If you have pits and grooves on your teeth, the tannic acid might settle into them, causing discoloration with time. Drinking water after tea, using a straw or cleaning your teeth with a tissue may minimize the rate of staining, Better Residences and Gardens reports. Your dental professional may likewise be able to eliminate the discolorations through bleaching or lightening procedures.
Black tea has the most negative effect. It stains even more than coffee.
Tea contains many of the active pigments that give it its dark coloring. It contains a large amount of tannins (tannins). These organic substances stain tooth enamel, contributing to the formation of yellow or dark brown plaque. If you want to maintain the color of your teeth, it is better to switch to herbal, green or white tea. Can’t give up your favorite drink? Add milk to your tea to avoid unwanted staining.
Other drinks that change the color of your teeth
The whiteness of your teeth depends not only on proper care, but also on your food choices. Many liquids contain natural or artificial dyes that change the shade of enamel. To avoid acquiring a yellowed smile, you need to know the list of drinks that are detrimental to tooth enamel.
Coffee
Coffee, like tea, contains active pigments and saturated carbohydrates that affect the color of your teeth. In addition, instant coffee is more damaging to enamel than ground coffee. When you drink it regularly, you run the risk of developing a brown tooth color, and you can get hardened, dark stains. Coffee stains tooth enamel, changes the acid-alkaline balance and causes rapid decay of the tooth enamel surface. If hygiene is not taken care of in time, after a while the pigmented areas can be removed only with the help of procedures in the dentist.
Carbonated beverages
The large amount of sugar and acids found in carbonated liquids negatively affect enamel. They flush out calcium and attack the top layer, penetrating deep into it. In addition, artificial coloring agents attack the dental tissue, causing cracks and cavities over time. Soda and citric acid literally corrode enamel, causing it to thin and increase sensitivity.
Natural Juices
Fruits and berries are certainly beneficial, thanks to their high vitamin content. However, they also contain organic acids that damage the surface of your teeth by exposing the pores of your enamel. Citrus beverages are especially harmful because they contain a lot of acidic substances. Natural pigments are deposited on the enamel, causing it to loosen and discolor. Your smile may appear red, blue or pink which, over time, may turn yellow. Cherries, currants, blueberries, and blueberries can have this effect.
We do not give separately the harm of alcoholic beverages on the teeth, as we advocate that people give up alcohol completely, as its harm is much greater than can be described in a separate article.
Foods that stain enamel
Tooth discoloration caused by foods is in some cases easy to correct. But sometimes it can take a lot of effort.
Even with regular oral hygiene, food and drink stains can still build up on teeth.
Let’s clarify which foods should be eaten with caution.
Fruits and berries
The daily diet should include berries and fruits – an irreplaceable source of vitamins. But some types of berries should be consumed with caution, because they have an intense color:
- blueberries and cranberries;
- blackberries and cherries;
- Cherries and grapes.
By consuming these berries in large quantities over a long period of time, you may see that the color of your teeth has changed.
The staining of the tooth surface can show up regardless of how you consume the berries. Whether it is fresh product, juice, mousse or jelly. It all depends on the amount and duration of consumption.
Many berry lovers are curious about whether strawberries stain their teeth. Unlike other berries, strawberries do not stain enamel, but the high acid content of these berries does not help to strengthen tooth enamel.
Other Ways How Does Tea Affect Yor Teeth
Erosion
Certain brand names of bottled and sweetened teas add to dental disintegration due to the fact that of their sugar material. As you drink these types of teas, your teeth are bathed in sugar, which encourages erosion and dental cavities. The Academy of General Dentistry reports that canned and bottled iced teas can permanently harm your tooth enamel, which will soften your teeth and increase your risk of missing teeth and cavities. Unsweetened tea is a healthier option that does not include sugar.
Inflammation
Tea includes substances called polyphenols that may assist protect your health. Inning accordance with Narender Kumar Jain, Maqsood Siddiqi and J. H. Weisburger, authors of “Protective Effects of Tea on Humans,” taking in the polyphenols in tea on a daily basis might help in reducing and prevent gum inflammation that adds to gingivitis, which can result in tooth damage gradually. While research studies continue to determine a link, adding a glass of brewed and sugar-free tea to your everyday diet might offer protective advantages.
Antioxidants
A glass of tea also consists of a wealth of anti-oxidants that contribute to health and help prevent certain illnesses and disease. For instance, a diet that includes plenty of antioxidants may lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and particular types of cancer. The antioxidants might also protect your teeth from disintegration and cavities by supporting a healthy mouth. Gain these take advantage of unsweetened and brewed tea instead of bottled and canned teas that contain added sugar.
How to protect tooth enamel
Do you want to keep your smile attractive for a long time? You can help protect your tooth enamel by following these tips:
- Maintain daily hygiene routine. It is advisable to use a whitening toothpaste and mouthwash. Flossing is also important. This removes plaque particles, which absorb stains.
- Use a soft toothbrush for more gentle care.
- Do not brush immediately after drinking an acidic liquid. Acid softens enamel, and exposure to a toothbrush can cause thinning and erosion. Simply rinse your mouth with water.
- Drink more water when you eat. It will help remove unwanted pigments.
- Watch your diet. Avoid unwanted liquids if possible. Replace coloring beverages with water or minimize their intake. Also pay attention to the acidity level of your food.
- Use cocktail straws. This is one way to avoid restricting yourself from drinking your favorite beverages. They can help you avoid getting pigmented substances on the surface of your enamel.
- Don’t eat foods that are too hot or too cold.
- Give up unhealthy habits. Nicotine not only affects your health but also gives your smile an unsightly yellowish tint.
- Visit your dentist regularly. Professional oral hygiene and preventive whitening can help keep your teeth healthy for a long time. Whitening and brushing procedures are available to anyone today.
Follow the above tips and develop good habits. Paying daily attention to your oral care will help you avoid problems in the future. This way, you will keep your enamel white for years to come and will prevent darkening of teeth due to drinking black tea and other colorful beverages.. A beautiful smile is a sign of health, attractiveness, and success.