You have likely been told that drinking coffee and soda can stain your teeth. You may also know that some berry juices and wines also have this effect. But what about tea, specifically the lighter-colored teas? Surely if the tea is not dark, it will not stain your teeth. Unfortunately, that is not the case. No matter what color your tea is, it has the potential to stain your teeth. It does not matter if it is a light tea, a dark tea, or any color in between.
How Teas Stain Your Teeth
The color of the liquid does not matter because it is not what actually stains your teeth. Instead, the staining is caused by tannin. This is a substance found in teas that is derived from gallic acid. It is what gives teas their bitter taste. It is found in plants and barks, and on its own, tannin has a brown or yellow color.
When you drink tea, the tannin slowly builds up on your teeth. Its natural color is what slowly starts to change the coloring of your teeth. It does this regardless of the color of the liquid, so no matter what you drink if it has tannin in it, your teeth will stain.
How to Minimize the Stains
If you find it hard to give up your tea but also want to have pearly white teeth, there are a few things you can do. First, do try to cut back on the amount of tea you drink. Next, be sure you brush twice a day. This will help remove any tannins that have stuck to your teeth. Finally, be sure to come to see us every six months for a professional cleaning. We can also do a professional whitening treatment if you are not happy with how your teeth look.
Dental Blog | Sunnyside Dentistry | Clackamas, OR dentist Dick Hikade, DDS at Sunnyside Dentistry has created this informative blog to help educate the community about dental concerns. Sunnyside Dentistry, 14210 SE Sunnyside Rd, Suite 200, Clackamas, OR 97015 + (503) 451-5104 + sunnysidedentistry.com + 10/14/2024 + Associated Words: dentist Clackamas OR +
You have likely been told that drinking coffee and soda can stain your teeth. You may also know that some berry juices and wines also have this effect. But what about tea, specifically the lighter-colored teas? Surely if the tea is not dark, it will not stain your teeth. Unfortunately, that is not the case. No matter what color your tea is, it has the potential to stain your teeth. It does not matter if it is a light tea, a dark tea, or any color in between.