Fancy a cuppa?
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Monica Davidson looks at the impact of your morning cuppa on your dental health. |
Most people consume at least one hot drink every day. The most popular beverages are tea and coffee, but herbal tea is also a favourite. While the occasional cuppa is doing no harm, what are the long-term effects of drinking tea and coffee every day?
The bad news
The most noticeable impact of drinking tea and coffee is staining. Tannic acid creates the dark colour in both tea and coffee which causes the enamel, the hard white coating on teeth, to stain brown. The more you drink, the heavier the stain. Tannic acid is also present in red wine and some fruits.
An easy solution to avoid staining is to rinse with a glass of water after every cup. Water neutralises the acids left in your mouth after drinking, and washes away tannins. You could also:
- wipe the teeth with a tissue
- sip iced tea and coffee through a straw, which will only stain the back teeth
- remember to brush and floss at least twice a day.
Tannin-stained teeth can also be bleached, but this is only successful in about 90 percent of patients. Not all teeth are good candidates, so discuss the procedure with your dentist first.
Herbal teas are often considered a healthy alternative to black tea, as they contain less caffeine. However, some herbal teas can be damaging to teeth, depending on their pH level.
pH measures how acidic or alkaline a substance is. Teas that are highly acidic can erode the enamel of teeth. Berry and fruit teas are thought to have the highest acidity.
The good news
Tea and coffee can reduce the likelihood of dental caries, or tooth decay. This is, of course, only the case if the drink is unsweetened - adding sugar does not contribute to better dental health.
Unsweetened roasted coffee can reduce the likelihood of dental bacteria.
- In one study1, roasted coffee inhibited the growth of the S. mutans bacteria, one of the strains responsible for tooth decay
- In another study2, coffee was shown to reduce the way bacterial cells stuck to the surface of teeth, which in turn lessened the likelihood of caries (tooth decay).
Tea also inhibits the growth of several strains of bacteria, including the kind that cause tooth decay. Tea also contains polyphenols, naturally occurring chemicals which can reduce the formation of plaque.
- Not only does this reduce the likelihood of cavities, but polyphenols also decrease your chances of having bad breath
- Studies show that the polyphenols in tea also help prevent atherosclerosis, a condition where fatty deposits cause narrowing of the arteries
- Polyphenols also have strong antioxidant properties, and can protect cells against damage caused by free radicals.
Tea also contains fluoride, drawn naturally from the tea plant. Fluoride is good for teeth, as it mixes with saliva to help strengthen the enamel. One cup of tea contains approximately 0.25 milligrams of naturally occurring fluoride, around one-sixth of the recommended daily intake.
It's important to remember that there is no substitute for good old tap water for looking after teeth. Water generally has neutral pH (is neither acidic nor alkaline), contains no sugar and when taken from your tap, contains fluoride which is estimated to reduce tooth decay by 20-40%. Better yet, water won't stain!
Caffeine and other issues
Both tea and coffee contain caffeine, a natural stimulant that acts on the brain and nervous system. In small doses it makes you feel alert and focussed. Larger doses, however, can cause sleeplessness and anxiety.
Coffee contains more caffeine than tea.
- An instant coffee contains around 60 to 100mg of caffeine, while fresh coffee can contain 80 – 350 mg, depending on the brew, how the coffee is made and how strong it is.
- Tea contains 8 to 100mg, depending on the strength and type. Around 300-400 mg per day or less is considered an acceptable dose of caffeine.
Tea and coffee can also inhibit the body’s ability to absorb iron. If you have an iron deficiency or anaemia, avoid both drinks.
Tip: Hot chocolate anyone?
Raw cocoa contains polyphenols, which inhibit some of the bacteria that cause tooth decay. This means that, when combined with the calcium found in milk, a hot cocoa could add to the overall strength and health of your teeth. Sadly, the same is not true for hot chocolate which has high sugar and low cocoa levels - it has quite the opposite effect!
References:
1. Antonio et al., 2010, ‘Species, roasting degree and decaffeination influence the antibacterial activity of coffee against Streptococcus mutans’, Food Chemistry, Volume 118, Issue 3, pp.782-788
2. Stauder et al., 2010, ‘Antiadhesion and antibiofilm activities of high molecular weight coffee components against Streptococcus mutans’, Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry, Volume 58, pp. 11662-6
Time for a check-up? Call us on 134 246 to make an appointment at an ahm Dental Practice in Parramatta, Haymarket, or Wagga Wagga; if you’re an ahm member you can make an appointment online.
This information should be considered as a general guide only. Please consult our Dental Practices or your own physician before proceeding with any treatment.
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