Tea lovers know all too well how comforting taking a little break and enjoying a cookie with the hot beverage can be. Are you more Earl Gray with a drop of milk? Or lemon flavor with half sugar? The question is important, since fruit-flavored teas are not completely safe for oral health, according to a study conducted by the scientific team of the prestigious King's College London. Researchers have found that heavy consumption of acidic beverages like fruit teas and flavored water can ultimately damage teeth, largely because they attack the enamel. To reach these conclusions, the cases of 300 people with advanced tooth wear were carefully observed. It was found that dental erosion – another expression to define tooth wear – was accentuated in patients who nibbled more.
Fruit tea, fruit syrups (alcoholic or not), diet drinks, sugary drinks and flavored water are some of the products that damage tooth enamel, especially if these beverages are kept in the mouth instead of to be swallowed directly. So what solution is there for us? You have to balance your meals according to Dr. Saoirse O'Toole, author of the research. “If you have an apple for dessert for lunch, try not to eat anything acidic for dinner. If you're planning on drinking wine in the evening, then skip the fruit tea the morning before. “, he explains to the BBC . People who consume water with a slice of lemon or fruit tea at least twice a day are 11 times (!) more likely to be affected by dental erosion. However, this figure is reduced by half when the drinks in question are drunk at mealtimes because chewing food stimulates the production of saliva, which dissolves the acidity of dishes and drinks. The main advice from scientists is as follows:you should favor cold drinks, consume them all at once (be careful not to choke yourself anyway, huh) and take them during meals. Consuming water, milk and cheese after ingesting acidic products is also recommended. You know everything… We will immediately be less relaxed at the snack break!
