Does Matcha Stain Teeth? (Here are the Medical-Backed Facts)
It's a documented fact that Matcha is good for your teeth (and mouth in general!)
But if you're trying to keep your teeth white, you probably asked yourself this question before: ¨Does Matcha stain teeth?¨.
In this article, we turned to the experts and spoke to a licensed dentist. As it happens, the answer is a bit more complicated than a "yes or no". The short answer is so long as you brush your teeth not too long after drinking Matcha, you won't have to worry about staining.
Does Drinking Matcha Stain Teeth?
Rest easy, Matcha does not directly stain your teeth, according to dental experts. It can stain the plaque found on your teeth, which forms between 4 to 12 hours after brushing.
So long as you brush your teeth before the plaque hardens, you are likely able to prevent staining. It's worth noting too that Matcha is very good for your oral health.
Asking a Dentist
Being that this is a tea blog, we're not exactly medical experts. So we turned to one: Dr. Chris Lewandowski, DDS and PC President of Princess Center Dentistry.
Dr. Lewandowski explained that Matcha doesn't stain your teeth, but rather, can discolor the film-like plaque that's naturally found on your teeth.
I was happy to hear this because that means so long as you brush regularly to remove the plaque before it hardens you don't have to worry about the Matcha tea itself causing problems. What's interesting is that Matcha has natural antibacterial properties. Not only will it not stain your teeth, but it will also help reduce bacteria, to begin with.
Why Dentists Love Matcha Green Tea
Some studies have indeed shown that if you want to maximize the whiteness of your teeth you should minimize drinking coffee, green tea, and soda. But when it comes to Matcha, that's only if you're not brushing after a reasonable period you've had Matcha.
Unlike sugary soda... Matcha is good for your oral health (By a lot, by the way.). Dr. Lewandowski pointed out another study on Matcha (or any green tea), saying that: “Green tea catechin inhibits the growth of P. gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, and Prevotella nigrescens and adherence of P. gingivalis on to human buccal epithelial cells."
In other words: it reduces bacteria in your mouth, prevents tooth decay, and fights gingivitis. Just a few more reasons why I prefer Matcha vs Coffee. Speaking of which:
Does Matcha or Coffee stain teeth more?
According to Dr. Henry Hackney, a Doctor of Dental Medicine and ADA member at Authority dental: "The quickest answer is that Matcha stains your teeth significantly less than Black teas and coffee. This Green tea contains catechins which prevent your teeth from staining. What’s more, the antibacterial properties of Matcha don’t let settle discoloration-causing bacteria."
Matcha has a one-two punch that helps protect against staining that coffee doesn't. With that said, "Matcha still contains tannins - a compound that’s known to stain teeth. So if you drink more than 4 cups a day, you will notice some discoloration over time."
Extra info: Green Tea contains compounds called catechins which are related to tannins. When the tea leaves are oxidized to create Red tea (known as Black tea in the West), catechins are mainly turned into theaflavins, which impart a red/brown color to the leaves, and consequently to your teeth. That’s also why Red tea stains your teeth way more than Green tea does.
Preventing Staining
To prevent staining from Matcha tea, simple brushing and flossing is your best option and will keep your smile white. Just brush within "24 hours before it hardens into tartar. Remember to not brush your teeth for at least 30 minutes after eating or drinking - this can damage them rather than protect them."
Matcha for Oral Hygiene
Just how good is Matcha for your oral hygiene? We'll turn again to Dr. Lewandowski:
"Matcha has a positive effect on the health of your gums through the prevention of periodontal disease. This benefit, along with Matcha’s other benefits for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and even cancer, makes Matcha a no-brainer when it comes to enjoying tea. Teeth stains seem to be a minor inconvenience in comparison, and something which you can easily overcome by simply brushing your teeth after drinking your Matcha, rather than brushing your teeth before you drink."
So according to our expert, "The benefits of drinking Matcha may outweigh the risk of staining your teeth."
In other words:
What makes all of this so amazing is that the one downside to Matcha is possible teeth staining. But only if you don't brush well.
But the benefits don’t end here:
Reduced chance of heart disease
Less cavity formation, and protect tooth enamel
Better breath
Lower risk of oral cancer
Prevents gum disease
A healthy mouth floral with minimal bad bacteria.
This isn't even counting the overall side effects of drinking tea, such as:
Anxiety reduction from L Theanine
Antioxidant effects of green tea Catechins
Less inflammation from compounds like EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate) and more.
All of this is backed by research, too. For more on this, I wrote an entire article on 5 reasons why Matcha is Good for your Teeth. Worth a read if you want to go beyond the smile.
Matcha Staining as a Warning Sign
It turns out that not only will Matcha help prevent cavities, but the Green tea acts as an early warning sign of overall poor dental hygiene. According to Dr. Patterson, a dental surgeon, "If you see stains on your teeth from Matcha, then you might have grooves or chips in your teeth, or you're not brushing and flossing correctly."
In a way, staining is a good thing: because you can identify issues with your teeth before they get worse. Like I said before, there's a reason that Dentists (and your enamel) love Matcha.
Lattes Don't Count
It's worth mentioning that when it comes to all these benefits of drinking Matcha tea, we're only talking about the pure stuff. Not lattes and blended drinks with milk and sugar. Those additives undo any of the good the Matcha brings to the table (at least when it comes to cavity formation and causing bad breath.)
A plain Matcha can be a little overwhelming if you're new to drinking it. That is understandable, but I hope you'll consider trying it after reading some of my articles here.
If you've had a bad experience in the past with Matcha tasting too bitter, it may just be because you've been drinking low-quality stuff. Keep an open mind and a brave palate! And if you’re not really sure why your tea always ends up bitter, we actually wrote an entire article on why that could be. You can read it here: Why does Matcha taste Bad?
Matcha is not Medicine
One quick aside I like to bring upon the Ooika blog whenever talking about the "health benefits" of Matcha. Yes, it's good for you. But you shouldn't think about tea as a medicine... it's not a mouthwash. It's a beverage, a rather healthy one, but also appreciate it for its taste, the culture it comes from, and the feeling you get from drinking it.
For a really comprehensive overview of the flavors, growing regions, and processing methods, give a read to my What is Matcha? article here. It'll catch you up via an engaging and easy-to-get-through review.
Have Real Matcha With Us
So, does Matcha stain teeth? Well, so long as you brush your teeth not too long after drinking it, Matcha won’t prevent you from having a nice smile with perfectly white teeth. On top of that, Matcha Green tea is good for your dental hygiene and your health in general, so there is really no reason to worry.
Now that you are reassured, maybe you would like to give Matcha a try? If that’s the case, I would like to invite you to try out Ooika’s unique single-cultivar Matcha Green teas. They’re ground fresh in-house the traditional way, with one of the few Japanese stone mills in the United States. You can buy our authentic Matcha online here.
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