For daily tea drinkers, here’s a factoid that will brighten your day and possibly your smile: teas contain trace amounts of fluoride that can help prevent tooth decay. That’s right, drinking green teas, black teas and oolong teas can help promote oral health.
You might be thinking that fluoridated water used to brew tea should be getting all the credit, but that’s not the case! Fluoride is naturally stored in the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant, which are later harvested to make tea. Older tea leaves have more fluoride than newer leaves. White teas are made from the newest leaves of the camellia sinensis plant and therefore contain the least amount of fluoride.
Of course, many people are aware of the dangers of ingesting too much fluoride, including a heightened risk for osteoporosis. So does that mean you should be worried about the fluoride content in your tea? Not at all!
Even if you drank a whole liter of green tea in one day, the amount of fluoride would be well below the recommended levels for safe consumption. The amount of fluoride found in your average tea will contain just about the recommended dose for fighting off cavities and ensuring that teeth stay strong and healthy. So kick back, relax with your favorite cup and enjoy the added benefit of healthier teeth!
