Surprising Drink That Harms Your Teeth

Most people believe that tea in its varieties is very healthy, and if consumed without sugar, it is considered akin to drinking water. However, a study in the UK discovered that drinking fruit-flavored tea between meals can pose a threat to dental health.

According to a new study from King's College London, published in the British Dental Journal, drinking fruit tea can damage teeth. The data showed that beverages like flavored water or fruit teas consumed between meals resulted in significant tooth erosion and damage to the tooth enamel.

The study examined the diet of 300 people with severe tooth erosion. The findings indicated that drinking beverages such as fruit juices, liqueurs, flavored waters, and diet drinks caused similar dental damage as fruit tea, which is often perceived as healthier. The study claims these drinks erode teeth, and the longer they stay in the mouth before swallowing, the greater the damage they cause.

Researchers found that when drinks like water with a slice of lemon or alternatively hot fruit-flavored tea were consumed twice a day between meals, there was an 11 times higher risk of serious tooth damage or moderate erosion, with the statistics splitting along these lines.

The research team from King's College London stated: "If you drink things for long periods - more than five minutes, or if you play with them in your mouth or even nibble fruits for a few minutes instead of eating them whole - these activities can genuinely damage teeth." They further advised that if you eat an apple as a snack at noon, avoid acidic foods later that evening: "If you drank a glass of wine in the evening, do not drink fruit tea the following morning. Try to balance your diet," they clarified.

Among the various types of fruit teas, the most acidic include blueberry and rosehip, ginger, and lemon tea.