Coffee, red wine, tea… What drink stains your teeth the most?

Our teeth betray our habits. In smokers, they take on a yellowish tint, for example. But our food preferences can also be reflected in our smile. Dr. Miles Madison, an American dentist, testifies to this on his account TikTok. Based in Beverly Hills, California, he recently conducted an experiment to understand the effects of different drinks on teeth. For ten days, he soaked his teeth in four liquids: coffee, red wine, tea and Coca-Cola.

@drmilesmadison Which drink stains teeth the most? Coffee, tea, red wine, or soda? The results might surprise you! ????☕ Curious about the next contenders? Let me know which 4 drinks you’d like me to test next! Drop your suggestions in the comments! ????✨ #TeethWhitening #SmileCare #DentalTips #OralHealthMatters #StainFighters #HealthySmile ♬ Brother Louie Mix ’98 (feat. Eric Singleton) (Radio Edit) – Modern Talking

Red wine is bad for your teeth

When he discovered the results, he was surprised: red wine had very marked effects on the tooth. “The red wine has stained the whole tooth, he observes. It stained the enamel, the root, everything. Red wine definitely causes the most stains.” It is the tannins present in the liquid which are responsible for these stains.

Stained teeth: Coca-Cola damages teeth and their structure

Coca-Cola was the second most harmful drink. Dr. Madison found that the drink darkened teeth, but also damaged their structure. According to him, it is linked to the acidic properties of the drink. “The Coca-Cola not only stained the tooth very darkly, but it caused little pits because the acid sort of ate away at the enamel and also some of the root structure.”he elaborates. In another video, he also warns about the quantity of sugar present in a can: 34 grams for 33 cl of drink. However, sugar is responsible for the proliferation of bacteria in the mouth, which will degrade enamel and promote the appearance of cavities.

Coffee and tea: effects on tooth color

When it comes to morning drinks, coffee remains the most harmful liquid for teeth. Looking at the test tooth, he describes the changes in color, which became yellowish on the top and darker at the root. “It’s a lot darker than when we started and most importantly, the surface of the root, which doesn’t have as many minerals as enamel, has really stained.”he observes. The tea also left traces, but lighter.

What to do to limit tooth staining?

To counter the effects of these drinks on the teeth, it is necessary to adopt good dental hygiene with regular brushing. “It is recommended to brush your teeth at least twice a day, with fluoridated toothpaste, advises Health Insurance. For effective washing, carefully carry out all brushing steps. Complete this operation by cleaning the gaps between the teeth with dental floss.” Dentists can also perform tooth whitening, but the results are provisional.