Planning to head out early in the morning and want to grab a cup of tea before you start your day? But can you drink tea after brushing your teeth?
After brushing your teeth, you might want to drink some tea to freshen your breath. If that’s the case, make sure to wait at least 30 minutes after brushing before you pucker up that cup or drink anything.
This is mostly because your teeth are still exposed to bacteria in the mouth, which can release plaque acids onto the tooth surface when exposed. These acids can then cause damage that might lead to tooth erosion.
Want to learn more about the right time to drink tea or brush your teeth? Let’s dig in!
Brushing Your Teeth Before Drinking Tea
Fluoride toothpaste is designed to protect teeth both normally and in cases of dental work. Some kinds of toothpaste contain sodium lauryl sulfate to help remove stains from teeth. However, when you clean your teeth before drinking tea or coffee, it does not cause the teeth to absorb more stains.
Whitening toothpaste has abrasives and hydrogen peroxide in it to clean your teeth and make them whiter. It can’t, however, open the tubules on your teeth. The process of teeth whitening would require that they open up to allow oxygen and other materials into the tooth structure. This will last for a few days following the procedure before closing again to protect against further damage.
As your teeth are adjusted to the new color and the tubules are opened during the procedure, you may find that they feel a little more sensitive.
Since you’ve had your teeth professionally whitened and the job isn’t done just yet, it would be best for you not to drink tea for a couple of days.
Brushing Your Teeth After Drinking Tea
Some people think that it’s not great to brush your teeth right after drinking hot drinks because the acidity in tea and coffee softens your enamel.
The theory is that brushing while your enamel is softer can wear away enamel, increasing your risk of tooth decay.
Unlike soda and coffee, tea is a mild acid, and some people have been concerned that this could wear away the enamel on their teeth. So, the amount of tea you drink is not going to be enough to do any damage.
Besides, your saliva has buffering agents in it that will help neutralize any acid from eating or drinking anything acidic. Hence, don’t worry about using a soft toothbrush after drinking tea to clean your teeth.
Colgate does recommend waiting 30 minutes after drinking or eating acidic food (i.e., citrus juice) before brushing your teeth. But it also says you can brush immediately after drinking tea to remove coffee and dark tea stains.
A juice’s pH is around 2.0 (more acidic), whereas tea’s pH (4.9 to 5.5) is closer to 7.0, making it less acidic than many citrus juices. That’s why there is no harm in rinsing or brushing your teeth right after having a tea drink.
If you have a permanent crown on a tooth, then having that tooth immersed in hot water from coffee or tea could possibly cause staining faster due to the higher temperature of the liquid.
To minimize the staining of your teeth, try not to hold or swish tea in your mouth. You can also do so by rinsing with water right after drinking it; this may help some of the tannin residue wash off.
Should You Drink Tea Before or After Brushing Your Teeth?
Drinking tea is a great way to add variety and flexibility to your diet, but there are some things that you should keep in mind.
You should also avoid sweet or acidic add-ins that erode the enamel of your teeth and make you more susceptible to cavities.
How Long Should You Wait After Brushing Your Teeth to Drink Tea?
Ideally, it is best to wait at least 30 minutes after brushing your teeth to eat or drink anything.
If you want to drink tea immediately after brushing your teeth, then there’s no cause for alarm. It should be noted, however, that if you have sensitive teeth, cold/hot beverages may be a problem.
That being said, we recommend waiting until your mouth feels warm again before drinking water or any hot or cold beverages as they could result in discomfort.
How Long After Drinking Tea Can You Brush Your Teeth?
Drinking tea over time can cause staining that is difficult to remove. You should always brush your teeth after drinking tea to avoid getting stains in the first place.
Nobody wants to have stained teeth, especially after eating tea and coffee. While daily brushing and flossing are the best ways to prevent staining, you can also take a few extra steps if you can’t brush your teeth right away.
Try rinsing your mouth out with water or chewing on sugar-free gum after drinking tea to help remove residues left behind on your teeth. More importantly, ease up on drinking tea too often!
Can You Brush Your Teeth After Drinking Hot Tea?
Drinking hot tea doesn’t affect the health of your oral cavity. While brushing immediately after eating may seem like a hassle, it’s a good habit to develop as it helps remove plaque and bacteria already present in your mouth.
Furthermore, excessively limey drinks can weaken tooth enamel. So, if you’re concerned about adding to your enamel erosion over time, try not to drink too many acidic beverages (think sodas, sports drinks, and alcoholic beverages).
Does Tea Have Fluoride?
It’s true that tea does have fluoride. This is because the tea plant absorbs the mineral from the soil, where it is naturally found.
In fact, studies
have found that some teas have more fluoride than others because of how much fluoride is in the soils where they are grown. The fluoride content also depends on the age of the tea leaves.
Can Tea Damage Teeth’s Enamel?
When you drink tea on its own, it’s not going to have a bad impact on the teeth. It will not result in tooth decay or dry mouth.
That said, drinking more than two cups of tea per day will cancel out any benefits from fluoride and make your teeth weak again.
Although tea contains fluoride, it also contains tannins, which are a form of staining. Tannin can stain teeth and interfere with the effects of fluoride. If you drink herbal teas, they will also stain your teeth because they contain tannin.
The sugars in tea and milk come together to form a sticky mix that coats your mouth, teeth, and gums. And bacteria can break down those sweetened drinks into energy for themselves. But it doesn’t stop there; it also damages and wears down your tooth enamel.
Most people drink tea with milk or sugar; both of these items have natural sugars that also cause tooth decay.
Besides, tea also has tannins that have a bad impact on tooth enamel. For instance, the problem with black tea is that it contains high levels of tannins and acids that break down enamel.
As for fluoride, it has some benefits in terms of antioxidants and being able to fight bacteria. However, there are many other ways to get fluoride from toothpaste and mouthwash.
Can You Drink Green or Herbal Tea after Brushing Your Teeth?
Staining from herbal teas is not a major risk but can still be an issue. The same guidelines apply: don’t drink green tea after brushing your teeth, and wait for at least 30 minutes.
Besides, don’t steep black or green tea for too long, and be sure to use plenty of water or milk. White, Ceylon, or oolong tea tends to stain less than black tea, but any type of tea can stain teeth over time.
Herbal teas like peppermint, chamomile, or dandelion are better than black tea. However, limit it to three cups per day and avoid adding sweeteners or flavorings.
Drinking Tea with Braces
If you love drinking tea and wearing braces, then do the following:
- Before drinking your favorite tea, wait for at least 30 minutes after brushing your teeth.
- Don’t drink tea containing milk and sugar. However, adding just milk to your tea does not do much harm.
- Don’t forget to brush your teeth 30 minutes after you are done finishing your brew or having a meal.
- At night, don’t consume anything after brushing your teeth, or else you will have to brush again.
Drinking hot tea while wearing braces can dislodge the wax that holds your teeth in place. You should always remove the braces’ wax before eating. But if you accidentally swallow some while enjoying your drink, it’s still safe to eat.
Conclusion
While it’s true that you can drink tea after brushing your teeth, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First, wait thirty minutes after brushing before you drink anything. It will allow your fluoride toothpaste to do its job and prevent tooth decay.
Secondly, don’t forget to rinse your mouth with water after having tea to remove residual sugars from your teeth and gums.