Fact Check: Can having tea, or coffee without brushing your teeth cause cavities?

A video of an AI bot that resembles a `doctor’ claims that sipping tea or coffee without brushing your teeth causes cavities.

The viral reels warn tea or coffee lovers to stop drinking right after they wake up.

Many people have the habit of starting their day with a cup of coffee or tea as a first resort. Coffee contains caffeine which is often labeled as addictive because it has a chemical structure resembling that of adenosine, a compound naturally found in your body that relaxes your central nervous system. You might have seen a lot of people who often complain of severe headaches or nausea throughout the day if not had that one cup of coffee or tea in the morning.

Similarly, tea is one of the most popular beverages the most of us. Tea comes in a range of varieties with certain benefits. Some of tea’s compounds may have addictive properties and drinking too much could do more harm than good.

Whatever you drink or eat shows effects on your oral health if continues for a long time

Let’s find out.

Fact Check

NewsMeter found the claim to be with a missing context.

Does tea cause cavities?

“Tea itself doesn’t cause cavities, the ingredients added to it can,” said Willow’s Dentistry.

The add-on ingredients that we put in tea sugar or honey can increase the risk of cavities.

So, if you are drinking tea with sugar, honey, or any kind of sweetness your teeth are in danger.

Some people also like to add lemon to their black teeth which is very acidic. The acidity in the lemon can Erode your enamel if continue to drink for a longer period.

Moreover, the good news for tea lovers is that no matter black tea or green tea, it contains fluoride which helps your teeth ward off decay. Fluoride is also found in many good toothpastes.

Tea also contains polyphenols. Polyphenols are micronutrients from plant-based foods that help to kill bacteria. It might help reduce gum inflammation, gum disease, and even bad breath.

Tea can be very useful in reducing acid in your mouth which may result in erosion of the enamel. Green tea has a pH between 7 to 10 anything below 7pH is acidic and harmful to your teeth and enable.

Is Coffee good for oral health?

According to Healthline, any drink that isn’t water, or coffee can cause bacteria to grow in your mouth which can lead to tooth and enamel erosion. This can cause your teeth to become thin and brittle. Coffee can also cause bad breath, or halitosis because it sticks to the tongue. To avoid these problems, eat food before you drink coffee, and use a tongue scraper and toothbrush after you finish drinking.

Coffee can also stain your teeth' enamel as well. Coffee contains an ingredient called Tannis. Tannis causes color compounds to stick in your teeth and when these compounds are left unnoticed, they leave a yellow hue behind.

It should be noted that those things are not permanent once your dentist can take care of them.

Does that mean that you have to give up your favorite morning beverage? Probably no.

You can simply clean your mouth after drinking coffee with water or opt for a cup of green tea later in the day. Avoid creamers and sugars in your coffee.

But remember, coffee is acidic, if you try brushing your teeth immediately after eating or drinking anything acidic it will affect your tooth enamel and cause staining.

Moderation is the key. Dentists suggest that one should not take no more than two cups a day.

Hence, it is evident that tea is safer than coffee when it comes to oral health (post or pre-brushing).