The chances are, you probably love a cup of tea. In the UK, Brits drink around 50 billion cups of tea each year, on average. Black tea, in particular, gets its distinctive colour and taste from the oxidation stage, and is what makes black tea taste and look different from different to green and white teas.
While we are a nation of tea drinkers, this does, unfortunately, mean that we are more prone to having stained teeth, with black tea proven to create more staining than other types of tea. It’s natural for our teeth to become discoloured and stained over time, but black tea can speed up staining far sooner than some other lifestyle factors.
Is black tea good or bad for the teeth? If you’re an avid black tea drinker and have found your teeth beginning to stain, we do recommend reading the following for advice.
Is Black Tea Good For You?
To put it simply, black tea is good for you. It can boost your oral health, has antioxidant properties, with indications that black tea can also boost heart health, reduce blood pressure and lower blood sugar levels. Black tea also contains properties that reduce inflammation and prevents the growth of bacteria in the mouth.
Most of us Brits tend to drink tea to get us through the day or to finish off a stressful day. Black tea also offers calming and relaxing benefits. Not only does black tea help you unwind after a long day, but the amino acid (L-theanine) found in black tea can help you to relax, focus and concentrate better.
Of course, one very relevant benefit is that black tea can also boost your immune system with its alkylamine antigens. This means that black tea drinks have a better defence in fighting off common viruses around us.
As black tea contains fluoride, it is able to partially combat bacteria linked with tooth decay and gum disease and can help fight off the build-up of plaque.
Negative Impacts of Black Tea
While it’s recommended that black tea be consumed without milk or sugar, this doesn’t necessarily mean that pure black tea doesn’t have some negative impacts on your health. In fact, having milk with your black tea can slightly reduce the discolouration of your teeth when drinking black tea.
Not all teas can stain your teeth, but with that being said, black tea is known to stain teeth more than other types of tea, with its rich stain-promoting tannins. When black tea comes into contact with the teeth, it tends to stick to the surface and can even cause more tooth discolouration than black coffee.
Our Advice for Black Tea Teeth Staining
Noticing your teeth beginning to discolour from drinking black tea? Staining from black tea can be more common than you might think.
Our best advice to limit staining caused by drinking black tea would be to try and drink in moderation, as well as switching from black tea to green tea from time to time.
When convenient, you can rinse your mouth with water after drinking black tea, otherwise, chewing sugar-free gum can help to stimulate saliva which helps to fight cavities and removes excess particles after eating and drinking. Brushing with an electric toothbrush can also help rid the mouth of excess black tea that would otherwise stick to the surfaces of the teeth.
Teeth whitening is an affordable option which is simple and effective in reversing dental discolouration and can restore the shade of your teeth for a more natural and whiter smile. If you aren’t keen on teeth whitening, then you can have your teeth deep cleaned (dental polishing) during your dental hygiene appointment.
Take Care of Your Oral Health
Make your oral health a priority with our professional dentists in London. Our teeth whitening treatment can restore your teeth for a whiter, brighter smile.
Our Dentist in Victoria London will find you an appointment whether you’re a new or returning customer. If you require an emergency dentist in Victoria, contact us on 020 7233 7660.
Our dentists will see all emergency patients on the same day whenever possible, and you will be offered the next available appointment as soon as you call.
