Coffee vs. Tea: Which cuppa stains your teeth more?
Tea addicts, you might want to put your cuppa down before reading this.
You might want to put your cuppa down for this piece of shocking news. We are all aware that coffee stains our teeth and causes yellow discolouration. Because of this, some of us have switched over to tea but we’re sorry to tell you that drinking tea can still stain your teeth, maybe even worse than coffee.
With tea containing tannins and our tooth enamels being naturally porous, our teeth tend to absorb the tannins, causing stains and discolouration. The dark pigments in tea can also settle into the ridges of our enamel resulting in yellow teeth.
Tea contains compounds such as theaflavins, thearubigins and thebrownins, which are even more concentrated in stronger brews. These compounds create a plaque buildup, turning your gorgeous smile yellow.
The bad news doesn’t stop there. If you think you can avoid stained teeth by sipping on the popular healthy brew, green tea, think again. Unfortunately for green tea lovers, this blend actually contains the highest amount of tannins. Maybe we’ll just stick to water.
Don’t let this news put you off drinking tea just yet. Achieving pearly whites is still possible while sipping on a cup of tea. Having good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth twice a day and going for regular dental checkups can maintain a shining smile.
Shona Menon
Photo: Getty Images
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