What if your favourite drink came at the cost of your dental health?
For one teh c lover in Singapore, her habit of drinking it daily may be doing just that.
In an Instagram reel posted on Sept 15, British dietitian Ellie Cheale shared that her dentist had started noticing grey stains on her teeth during her dental appointments.
“She asked me what have you been drinking and I said teh c siew dai (less sweet),” the head of nutrition at Ufit said.
Ellie then revealed that she consumed the beverage daily, to which the dentist replied: “Ah okay that explains it.”
But cutting out her beloved drink was not an option for the dietitian, as she enjoys the drink too much.
So instead of dropping the habit altogether, Ellie turned to alternatives that could help minimise the staining.
“Here I am with my teh c siew dai with a straw to see if I can keep my teeth nice and pearly white,” she said, holding up cups of her favourite beverage, with a straw attached.
Her dentist had also advised her to drink water after the tea.
Calling out to Singaporeans for tips, the dietitian said: “Of course the solution is to stop drinking it but I love it too much, so I need another solution. If you have one, let me know in the comments.”
Netizens were quick to chime in with their suggestions.
Cautioning against drinking hot teh c with straws, a netizen advised Ellie to be careful not to scald herself, before recommending bringing a toothbrush for a quick brush after drinking for an “easy fix”.
Another said: “As an experienced local, and someone who pays my dentist too much money, I will tell you that the best trick is to drink fast and immediately rinse your mouth with plain water.”
The commenter also added that they had a friend who rinsed their mouth after every mouthful of coffee or tea, and while “extreme”, it worked.
Ellie’s love for teh c appears to have been brewing for quite some time.
In an Instagram post in August, Ellie shared that after nearly five years in Singapore, she had been “officially converted”.
“I’m not an avocado toast, latte kind of girl, no. I’m a kaya butter, less butter, teh c siew dai peng (iced) kind of girl,” she said.
The dietitian added that she “absolutely loves” the food in Singapore, adding that one of the reasons why she trains so much is so she can “enjoy the amazing food here”.
According to SingHealth, frequent consumption of drinks such as coffee, tea and wine can cause discolouration of the teeth.
Some ways to prevent the discolouration include abstaining from smoking, reducing the consumption of coffee and foods with coloured compounds, practicing good oral hygiene and visiting the dentist for scaling and polishing.
In some cases, bleaching or tooth whitening can help to improve the colour of teeth. Teeth resistant to bleaching can also be veneered or crowned.
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carol.ong@asiaone.com
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