Traditional British cuppa holds key to cutting tooth decay

A cup of tea is a natural source of fluoride

SIPPING a traditional British cup of tea could cut your risk of tooth decay, a new study has revealed.

 

It is already known than tea is a natural source of fluoride, which strengthens tooth enamel and prevents decay.

But nutritional experts have now discovered that budget blends and decaffeinated versions are often the most beneficial for dental health.

The team of nutritionists analysed 49 different types of teabags found some of the highest levels of fluoride in basic cheaper brands.

 

Fluoride is in toothpaste and helps strengthen your teeth

Study author, Dr Carrie Ruxton, a nutritionist and member of the Tea Advisory Panel said: "Just four cups of regular black tea per day would provide all of the fluoride recommended for good dental health."

Just four cups of regular black tea per day would provide all of the fluoride recommended for good dental health

Study author, Dr Carrie Ruxton

 

Black blended teas are the most commonly consumed in the UK and of these, Tesco Original teabags came out on top, with 2,300mg of fluoride per kg, followed by the supermarket's Original blend, 2,200, and PG Tips standard teabags, 1,700.

Decaffeinated blends also scored highly in the study, published in Nutrition Bulletin. The most fluoride was found in Taylor's of Harrogate decaffeinated Yorkshire tea, ahead of Tesco's decaf' teabags and PG Tips decaffeinated..

 



Cheaper tea bags tended to contain more fluoride than more expensive brands



Researchers made three brews from each type of teabag and then combined the cups to calculate the average fluoride content, which ranged from 0.72 to 1.68mg per cup.

But some posh teabags did not deliver anywhere near as much.

Twinings Speciality English Breakfast had less than a fifth of the amount found in the Yorkshire brew — just 470mg per kg, while Waitrose English Breakfast had a mere 540 and M&S Luxury Gold (No 2) 800.

The lowest level of all was found in Dragonfly organic white tea, which had just 25mg of fluoride per kg.

Tea plants absorb fluoride from the soil, so levels vary according to where it is grown.

 

Tea can also freshen your breath

But there's truth in the adage that you should give tea time to brew because this will also boost the fluoride content, according to the experts.

Older studies had suggested that too many brews could damage teeth and bones because excessive levels of fluoride can be harmful - the new research confirms UK consumption is well within safe limits.

Fluoride is also added to toothpaste, but it is known that a third of men and a quarter of women do not brush their teeth twice a day, as is recommended and more than four out of five adults have some tooth decay.

Tea also contains breath-freshening plant compounds and has very little acidity, so doesn't erode tooth enamel — unlike fizzy drinks and juice