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Nothing cools you off like a glass of iced tea, right? It seems to go perfectly with anything you might be eating, although it’s delicious on its own too. It’s so tasty that it even has its very own day – National Iced Tea Day. This year, it falls on June 10th.
Traditionally, iced tea would be fully caffeinated, sweetened and made from black tea. But some folks like to brew up herb tea, or even green tea, and serve that iced. It’s all delicious. But is iced tea a healthy drink? It depends.
Black tea supports overall health (but with a catch!)
Black tea – as well as oolong and green tea – is really good for your overall health, supporting healthy brain function and heart health according to the Mayo Clinic. Black, oolong, or green tea are all produced from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis bush. These tea leaves are loaded antioxidants. Some evidence suggests drinking black tea may lower the risk of heart attack and atherosclerosis and reduce kidney stone risk in women. Wow, that’s great news for tea drinkers!
But, sadly, black tea can make your smile look less bright. While your teeth may feel smooth, the enamel actually contains microscopic depressions – these have a tendency to catch and retain stain-producing substances that come into our mouths. Beverages like red wine, coffee, or tea (with chemicals called tannins) can stain your teeth. But good news! You can brighten your teeth back up with regular visits to your dentist for a professional cleaning.
You can also ask your dentist if there are products, like whitening toothpaste, that you can use at home between visits. Some stain-lifting toothpastes may not be the right choice if you have had restorative dental work.
Teeth whitening (bleaching) is another option, either with a home kit or by professional application at the dentist. Both types use similar bleaching agents, but a professional application is typically stronger and can produce brighter results with one session (as opposed to several weeks for home kits). Professional applications may also last longer on average before fading. A year or more if you practice consistent, at home dental hygiene and limit that black tea!
Pro tip: drink your iced team through a reusable straw, to limit it’s contact with your teeth! And consider a dental savings plan to save money at the dentist.
Too much herb tea may cause decay
A few years back, researchers Judith Phelan and Jeremy Rees at the University of Bristol Dental School published a study on herbal teas in the Journal of Dentistry. Their results may surprise you.
“Many studies show a high prevalence of tooth wear, even in young patients. One factor that may be contributing to this problem is the consumption of herbal teas that are often considered to be ‘healthy’ alternatives to other beverages … (but) many of the herbal teas tested were found to be more erosive than orange juice.”
Yikes. Erosive beverages are not ideal for your teeth. When tooth enamel is eroded by acidic substances, the structure of the tooth is weakened and more prone to decay. Your first hint that this is happening may be a throbbing toothache, though dentists can identify the beginnings of decay well before it becomes a big problem, so seeing your dentist regularly is key! Especially if you love herb tea.
So, does this mean no iced herbal tea, ever? That’s not what we’re saying. You can indulge! Just limit yourself to a glass a day and don’t skip the dentist. And after you’ve enjoyed that one glass, consider gently swishing your mouth with plain water to neutralize that acid.
Pro tip: Wait an hour or so after consuming any acidic drink (or food) before brushing your teeth.
Green Tea Can Reduce Certain Health Risks
Ice some green tea this Summer and you’ll get a refreshing beverage that has amazing health benefits! Studies have found that drinking green tea can ward off dental decay and gum disease, reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer such as bladder, esophageal and pancreatic cancers and lower the risk of ovarian cancer. It can even reduce bad breath, due to its disinfectant and deodorant capabilities. The list of benefits, backed by medical research, go on and on.
Most green tea products are sold as dried leaf tea. The best way to get the catechins and other flavonoids in tea is to drink it freshly brewed. The recommended consumption is three to four cups of tea a day.
Go easy on the sugar
For some of us, sweet tea is the only kind of iced tea worth drinking. But reducing or eliminating sugar really is beneficial to your overall health, and your dental health.
Sugar is your teeth’s worst enemy. It feeds oral bacteria that then release acids which weaken tooth enamel. This dental erosion process creates tiny, shallow holes (cavities), which often get deeper and bigger over time, as the decay works its way down into the tooth. Simply stated: sugar eats your teeth.
But not all sugar is equally bad. Some foods that are good for you – such as fruit and dairy – have naturally-occurring sugar. Fruit (and some vegetables) has fructose, and milk has lactose. Our bodies digest naturally occurring sugars differently. The fiber in fruit slows the absorption of fructose, and the protein in milk balances the release of lactose. Naturally occurring sugar doesn’t shock our bodies the way added sugars do.
The U.S. Dietary Guidelines suggest that we get no more than 10 percent of our daily calories from added sugars. Going lower than that is a good idea. To reduce your intake of added sugars, avoid or strictly limit foods that contain ingredients such as anhydrous dextrose, corn syrup, dextrose, maltose, nectars (e.g., peach nectar, pear nectar) and sucrose.
Here’s to your smile!
Remember, no matter what kind of iced tea you drink, getting your wellness and dental checkups is critical to your overall health. If budget is a concern, consider a dental savings plan, which can save plan members 10-60% on most dental procedures. Many plans also come with other wellness savings, such as discounts on prescription drugs, hearing, vision, and chiropractic care, as well as telehealth services.
Start leading a healthier life with that iced tea in hand! Learn more about dental savings plans here.
