Drinking herbal tea can damage your teeth, study finds

Millions of health-conscious people who have eschewed normal tea and coffee in favour of herbal drinks are facing disappointing news.

Researchers at the University of Bristol Dental School have found that herbal teas can seriously damage teeth by eroding protective enamel.

Writing in the Journal of Dentistry, the researchers said: "Many epidemiological studies show a high prevalence of tooth wear, even in young patients.

"One factor that may be contributing to this problem is the consumption of herbal teas that are often considered to be 'healthy' alternatives to other beverages."

The researchers measured the acidity of a range of teas and found wide variations. Some had low pH levels – indicating high acid levels – while others were relatively alkaline and harmless.

Overall, the researchers found that many of the teas eroded tooth enamel. Some were three times more damaging than orange juice.

"This information will be of use to clinicians when counselling patients with tooth surface loss," they wrote, adding that dentists who had patients with tooth erosion should perhaps advise them against drinking herbal tea.

A recent survey found that herbal tea accounts for 4 per cent of all tea drunk in Britain.

One of the leading manufacturers of herbal tea, Twinings, rejected the claims. A spokes-man said: "To suggest that drinking fruit tea could be detrimental to teeth is exactly the same as suggesting that eating an orange will damage one's teeth – a suggestion that we all know to be wrong.

"Indeed, fruit and herbal teas have been proven to have many benefits to mind and body ... We believe that consumers should not be concerned as, when consumed normally, any acid remaining on the teeth will be neutralised by the saliva in the mouth."