Coffee, Tea, Juice, Milk Tea or Soda: What Stains Your Teeth More?
Ever wondered why your smile looks a little less bright after your daily coffee fix or that weekend milk tea run? Stained teeth aren’t just about brushing habits—they’re also about what you sip. Some drinks are practically designed to leave their mark (literally).
So let’s settle it: which is the biggest culprit—coffee, tea, juice, milk tea, or soda?
☕ Coffee: The Classic Culprit
We all love it. We all need it. But coffee comes with dark pigments and tannins that latch onto your enamel like clingy exes. Over time, this means yellowish-brown stains that are hard to shake off—especially if you’re a daily drinker.
Verdict: Strong stainer. But let’s be honest, most of us still aren’t giving it up.
🍵 Tea: Sneakier Than Coffee
Here’s the twist: black tea stains even more than coffee. That’s because it’s loaded with tannins that bind to enamel. The result? Darker, sometimes grayish stains that can be more stubborn to clean. Green tea? Slightly gentler, but still guilty.
Verdict: The real MVP of staining. Tea is sneaky.
🧋 Milk Tea: The Gen Z Favorite
It feels lighter because of the milk, but don’t be fooled—the tea base is still there doing its thing. Add in sugar, and you’ve got double trouble: stains + higher cavity risk. Over time, milk tea can give your teeth a dull, yellow-brown cast.
Verdict: Not as bad as straight tea, but still a stainer. And the sugar doesn’t help.
🥤 Soda: Acid Overload
Dark sodas don’t just stain—they’re acidic. That means your enamel gets weaker and more porous, making future stains stick more easily. Even clear sodas (like Sprite) won’t stain, but they still erode enamel. So it’s a lose-lose either way.
Verdict: Moderate staining, but the most damaging overall.
🍇 Juice: The Wild Card
Not all juices are created equal. Dark-colored juices (grape, cranberry, blueberry) pack pigments that stain almost as much as tea. Lighter juices (orange, apple) don’t stain as much but are acidic enough to wear down enamel.
Verdict: Depends on your choice—dark juices = big stainers, light juices = enamel eroders.
⚖️ Stain-O-Meter (from worst to least)
- Tea (especially black)
- Coffee
- Dark juices
- Milk tea
- Dark soda
- Light juices / clear soda
✨ What You Can Do
- Use a straw for iced drinks (less contact with teeth).
- Rinse with water right after.
- Don’t skip professional cleaning—especially AIRFLOW® Prophylaxis, which painlessly clears out stains and biofilm.
Final Sip
Tea is the worst for stains, soda is the worst for your enamel, and coffee is the reliable middle culprit. The good news? Stains aren’t permanent. With good habits and the right dental care, your smile can stay fresh no matter your drink of choice.
👉 Book your cleaning at Affinity Dental Clinics—we’ve got AIRFLOW® technology in all our branches to keep your smile bright, no matter how many milk teas you’ve had this week.
