We realize that coffee is bad for our teeth because it can easily stain them. However, some people wonder if this is also true for tea. If you talk to any dentist, you'll find that the answer is "yes." In fact, tea is actually more likely to stain your teeth than coffee.
This is true regardless of the color of the tea leaves. In other words, dark leaves are just as likely to stain your teeth as lighter tea leaves. The reason for this is that both contain a large amount of tannin.
Tannin is an organic substance that's a derivative of gallic acid - what's used in producing leather and manufacturing ink. These are yellow or brown in color and have a bitter taste. They're found in galls, barks, and plant tissues.
When found in coffee, tea, and even wine, they'll stain your teeth. This typically occurs when they build up on your tooth enamel. Since it's the tannin that's acting in this way, it really doesn't matter what color (how light or how dark) your tea is.
Depending on the culture you live in, coffee and tea are both very commonly served beverages. While Americans drink more coffee than tea, it's important to note that tea does come in second place here thanks to most people's European ancestry.
In either case, these drinks are hard to give up. In this case, you really do need to take time to take good care of your teeth so that you can keep any staining to a minimum.
Good oral hygiene and regular preventative dental visits play a huge role here. If you have a question about anything about how to keep your smile shining, make sure you ask us. We'd be happy to help you keep your stains to a minimum.
