Does drinking tea make your teeth yellow? how to restrict?

Tea is a familiar drink present in the daily lives of many people. However, if you drink a lot of tea, you will observe that the color of your teeth becomes more yellow and dull. What exactly is it? Is there any way to fix it? Let's find out with The East Rose Dental Clinic right below.

Does drinking tea cause yellow teeth?

Tea contains many antioxidants and is beneficial for health, helping to protect the body from cancer. However, drinking tea can cause yellow teeth, especially in middle-aged and elderly people whose teeth are aging. The habit of drinking a lot of tea every day is the main reason why teeth quickly become yellow. On the contrary, people who drink tea less and take good care of their teeth have less yellow teeth than people who drink tea many times a day for a long time. In addition, the degree of yellow teeth also depends on the strength of the tea; Drinking weak tea or iced tea will reduce this risk compared to drinking strong tea.

Why do you drink tea to turn your teeth yellow?

Drinking tea regularly can make your teeth dull and yellow because some compounds in tea negatively affect tooth enamel. Tannins and flavonoids are the two main agents.

• Tannins in tea have the ability to stick to small pores on the surface of tooth enamel. If not cleaned thoroughly, it will cause tooth enamel to change color. When accumulated too much, tannin causes teeth to lose their natural whiteness. Tannins can also react with sugars, proteins, and carbohydrates in the oral cavity, increasing the risk of tooth decay.
• Flavonoids promote oxidation in tooth tissue, creating conditions for yellowing agents to attack, making tooth color less aesthetic.
• In addition, tea contains tannic acid, which changes the pH of the oral cavity, leading to tooth enamel erosion and making teeth susceptible to yellowing.

Read more: 10 Foods that stain teeth you should know

How to drink tea to avoid yellow teeth

Although drinking tea can cause yellow teeth, you don't need to give up this habit. To minimize the impact of tea on the color and health of tooth enamel, you can apply the following scientific tea drinking measures:

• Dilute tea to reduce tannin content coming into contact with teeth.
• Add a little milk to tea to reduce the impact of tannins and acids on tooth enamel, helping to limit tooth discoloration.
• Drink tea with a straw to limit the tea's direct contact with the tooth surface, reducing the risk of yellowing.
• Avoid sipping or holding tea in your mouth for too long, as this creates an opportunity for colored plaque to stick to your teeth and stain them faster.
• Drink filtered water after drinking tea to clean the oral cavity and remove tannins and acids that remain on the teeth.

Fix yellow teeth caused by drinking tea

If your teeth are dull or slightly yellow due to drinking tea, you can go to reputable dental centers to have your teeth whitened, making your teeth brighter and more aesthetic. Teeth whitening method using modern technology Zoom Whitening is currently considered the most effective. The whitening process takes just over 60 minutes, instantly whitening teeth by 2 - 4 tones compared to the original tooth color without invading or harming tooth enamel, while minimizing the feeling of sensitivity. The teeth in both jaws will be bright and white, and this effect can last for many years if you take proper and scientific care of your teeth.

Read more: Teeth whitening – Things you need to know

If your teeth are severely yellow or discolored with plaque deep into the tooth structure, whitening may not be effective. At that time, the doctor will advise on porcelain crowns to improve aesthetics. The porcelain crown process includes grinding teeth with appropriate proportions and taking jaw impressions to create porcelain crowns. Teeth after coating will be white, bright and even, increasing aesthetics and confidence when communicating. All-ceramic crowns do not darken the gum line, discolor, cause gingivitis or bad breath, and can last up to 20 years or more if properly cared for.