Does Tea Discolour Teeth?

Tea stains vessels, clothes and upholstery is bound to stain your teeth too, over a period of time. So if these beverages of regular consumption do discolour teeth, do you stop consuming them? That’s surely not the solution by any means! There are ways to manage discolouration of teeth caused due to beverage consumption. While some of them could be carried out at home, others would require visits to the dentists.

Understanding How Tea Would Eventually Discolour Teeth

Caffeinated beverages cause discolouration in the dental plaque and not the tooth itself. This plaque needs to be cleaned or flossed away within a period of 24 hours. In case it remains in the teeth, it hardens to form what we commonly call tartar. This tartar is a porous substance and absorbs stains caused by other food items as well. Eventually, your teeth look ugly and stained. In such cases you need to conduct a dental cleaning process which can effectively remove the tartar and the stains would disappear with them.

Dealing with Tooth Discolouration

Some of the most effective remedies to deal with tooth discolouration  include the following:

• Always remember to rinse your mouth thoroughly with tap water, every time you consume any caffeinated beverage.
• Regular brushing and flossing of teeth is a must. Flossing is an excellent way to remove dental plaque on a regular basis. This will prevent formation of hardened tartars.
• Make a paste with some common salt and baking soda. Use this to brush your teeth at least two times a week. Although this might not have a whitening impact on the teeth, it will surely help in removing stains.
• Consider rinsing your mouth with a hydrogen peroxide solution after brushing. This will help in dealing with the stains much more easily.
• You can also consider using an electric toothbrush for cleaning purposes. These are known to be especially effective in cleaning plaque and tartar.
• Always use a good quality whitening toothpaste for effective reduction of stains.
• You could also try some bleaching kits at home. Buy ones which contain hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide as bleaching agents.

Finally, if the stains continue to persist despite your best efforts, consider paying a visit to the dentist. He would carry out a complete cleaning of your teeth and gums and you can actually see the stains visibly disappearing. Remember paid dental procedures such as these might prove to be expensive and time consuming at the same time. So consider giving tea addiction a second thought.

Read more articles on Tooth Decay