National Iced Tea Day!

National Iced Tea Day!

June 10th is National Iced Tea Day!  As the weather warms, many enjoy the refreshing drink of iced tea. Family Dentistry would like to refresh our minds about the pros and cons of drinking tea.  The pros include the antioxidants in tea that promote good health and aid in preventing illness and disease.  The antioxidants may also protect the teeth from erosion and cavities by supporting a healthy mouth.  Tea also contains polyphenols that help reduce and prevent gum inflammation.  These benefits are from teas that are unsweetened and brewed.  The teas that are canned and sweetened do not have this advantage of benefits.  The cons include staining of the teeth from the tannic acid that gives tea the dark color.  Erosion can also occur from the sweetened and bottled tea that have a high sugar content.  This type of tea can soften your teeth and increase the chance of tooth loss and cavities.  Family Dentistry promotes healthy drinks for your teeth so remember to drink the unsweetened and brewed teas for the health benefits.