How to Remove Tea Stains from Teeth

Co-authored by Tu Anh Vu, DMD and Bailey Cho

Last Updated: June 10, 2024 Fact Checked

If you love drinking tea every day, but hate the surface stains on your teeth, there’s still hope. You won’t have to quit drinking your afternoon tea. In fact, there are various methods to whiten your teeth at home, such as using charcoal or fruits. If that’s not up your alley, you can always use whitening strips, whitening toothpaste, or change your diet with stain-removing foods. Take precautions with more abrasive whitening methods so your teeth remain stain free and healthy. In this article, we interviewed board certified dentist, Tu Anh Vu, DMD, on the safest ways to prevent stains and whiten your teeth.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Homemade Remedies

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1
Rinse with 3% hydrogen peroxide to remove stains. Peroxide is an antibacterial agent that can clean the entire mouth and gums. ^{[1]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} To make an oral mouth rinse with it, combine 1 part hydrogen peroxide with 2 parts water, then swish for 2-3 minutes and rinse. ^{[2]
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- Baking soda may also be used to remove stains and whiten your teeth. In a small cup, mix ¼ to ½ teaspoon (1½ to 3g) of baking soda with enough water to form a paste. Dip your toothbrush into the paste and brush your teeth for 1-2 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with water. ^{[3]
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2
Make a paste from strawberries to whiten your teeth. Mash up strawberries for teeth strengthening and whitening if you drink a lot of tea. When mashing, crush 4 or 5 strawberries, rub the mixture on your teeth, leave for 5 minutes, then rinse with water. ^{[4]
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- Another method is to mix mashed strawberries with baking soda, spread the mixture over your teeth, leave it on for 5 minutes, and then rinse it off. Brush your teeth and floss right after this routine. ^{[5]
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3
Brush your teeth with activated charcoal to remove stains. How does something as messy as charcoal whiten your teeth? Activated charcoal is abrasive, so research shows that it may have the potential to remove surface stains on your teeth. ^{[6]
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Research source} Too much abrasiveness can damage your teeth’s enamel and increase sensitivity over time, so talk to your dentist before adding it to your routine. ^{[7]
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- Use an old toothbrush so you don’t stain your normal toothbrush. Mix activated charcoal powder with water until it forms a paste-like consistency. Dab the mixture on your toothbrush, brush your teeth gently, and wait at least 3 minutes before rinsing. ^{[8]
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  Research source} Spit into a cup, instead of the sink, then dump the cup into the toilet to avoid a mess in the sink.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Whitening Your Teeth

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1
Brush your teeth with whitening toothpastes. These are one of the most widely used and effective forms of teeth whitening with their active ingredients being mild abrasives and bleaching agents. ^{[9]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} Whitening toothpastes aren’t instant, and it takes time and patience when brushing with them. Be consistent by brushing twice a day, and you may see the benefits within 2-6 weeks. ^{[10]
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- Conventional whitening toothpaste contains ingredients like silica, pyrophosphates, hydrogen peroxide, or carbamide peroxide to remove stains and discolorations. ^{[11]
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  Go to source}
2
Use teeth whitening strips to remove tea stains. These flexible little strips are made out of polyethylene, which is an elastic type of plastic. They usually contain peroxide to bleach your teeth. ^{[12]
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American Dental Association
World's largest dental professional organization and advocate for proper oral health
Go to source} Think about when you wash your white shirts in the laundry, and you use bleach to get all the stains out. Whitening strips work on your teeth in the same way to remove tea stains from your pearly whites. ^{[13]
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- Whitening strips are a more affordable option than getting your teeth whitened at the dentist, because insurance usually doesn’t cover whitening. ^{[14]
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- Follow the instructions that come with whitening strips. Misuse can have adverse effects like teeth sensitivity and gingival irritation. ^{[15]
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  American Dental Association
  World's largest dental professional organization and advocate for proper oral health
  Go to source}
- According to Vu, “make sure to brush your teeth before using whitening strips so that the hydrogen peroxide can penetrate your enamel better.” ^{[16]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Tu Anh Vu, DMD
  Board Certified Dentist
  
  Expert Interview. 10 April 2020.}
3
Brush with an electric toothbrush to whiten your teeth. According to Vu, electric toothbrushes “pulsate at a higher rate than what we can move our hands to,” helping us “get a better clean.” ^{[17]
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Expert Source

Tu Anh Vu, DMD
Board Certified Dentist

Expert Interview. 10 April 2020.} They effectively remove plaque and debris from your teeth and gums, with less effort than using a manual toothbrush. ^{[18]
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Cleveland Clinic
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- Sonic toothbrushes usually vibrate at 24,000-40,000 strokes per minute, while oscillating electric toothbrushes rotate at around 1,300-8,800 strokes per minute. ^{[19]
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  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  Go to source}
4
Go to a dentist for professional whitening. Dentists perform professional whitening, but since it’s considered a cosmetic procedure and not medically necessary, it is usually not covered by dental insurance. ^{[20]
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Research source} If you choose this route for stain removal, your dentist may schedule for you to have your teeth bleached. ^{[21]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source}
- The dental team will place a gel or rubber shield over your gums to protect them from the whitening agents. ^{[22]
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- Using a custom tray for your teeth, the dentist will fill it with the whitening product, usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. ^{[23]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Preventing Stains

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Drink tea through a straw to prevent staining. Anytime you drink anything dark, like red wine, coffee, or tea, it can stain your teeth. To prevent that, Vu advises to drink cold or hot beverages through a straw, and “swish with water right after so the stains don’t stick to your teeth.” ^{[24]
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Expert Source

Tu Anh Vu, DMD
Board Certified Dentist

Expert Interview. 10 April 2020.}
- If possible, Vu says to “brush your teeth quickly” after drinking something dark, even if you don’t have toothpaste. ^{[25]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Tu Anh Vu, DMD
  Board Certified Dentist
  
  Expert Interview. 10 April 2020.}
2
Use milk or cream in your tea to minimize stains. Studies show that casein, the main protein in milk, binds to the tannins in tea. ^{[26]
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Research source} Tannins are responsible for most of the staining properties of tea. Because tea lightens when you add milk, thanks to the casein, you reduce the risk of staining your teeth. ^{[27]
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- Most teas contain some tannin content, but black tea has the highest levels. ^{[28]
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Oranges may cause you to produce more saliva, which cleans your teeth naturally. ^{[29]
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4
Eat abrasive, fibrous foods to scrub out stains. Munching on fibrous vegetables and fruits may help scrub your teeth and prevent tooth stains. This includes broccoli, apples, pears, celery, and carrots. ^{[30]
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- Almonds, seeds, and other nuts may also strip away stains from your tooth enamel, whiten the surface of your teeth, and buff away discolorations. ^{[31]
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5
Eat apples to clean your teeth. Remember that an apple a day keeps the doctor away? Well, eating apples increases saliva production and acts as the mouth’s self-cleaning agent. Apples may also kill bacteria that causes bad breath, and their abrasiveness can help scrub your teeth clean. ^{[32]
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- Alternatively, chew sugar-free gum. According to Vu, increased saliva from chewing gum will “neutralize the acids to flush out [stains].” ^{[33]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Tu Anh Vu, DMD
  Board Certified Dentist
  
  Expert Interview. 10 April 2020.}

Expert Q&A

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Question

What are some of your top recommendations on how to prevent stains on your teeth?

Tu Anh Vu, DMD
Board Certified Dentist
Dr. Tu Anh Vu is a Board Certified Dentist and Owner of Tu's Dental, her private practice, in Brooklyn, New York. With over six years of clinical experience, Dr. Vu helps adults and kids of all ages get over their anxiety with dental phobia. Dr. Vu has conducted research related to finding the cure for Kaposi Sarcoma cancer and has presented her research at the Hinman Meeting in Memphis. She received her undergraduate degree from Bryn Mawr College and a DMD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.

Tu Anh Vu, DMD

Board Certified Dentist

Expert Answer

Any time you drink anything dark, it can stain your teeth if you don't swish with water or brush your teeth right away. If you can't do that, try chewing sugar-free gum to neutralize acid and remove stains from your teeth. Also, drink all of your dark drinks like coffee through a straw so they won't have as much contact with your teeth.

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Warnings

Don’t overuse baking soda or anything acidic, as these can strip the enamel from your teeth. ^{[34]
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American Dental Association
World's largest dental professional organization and advocate for proper oral health
Go to source}

Thanks
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Prolonged gargling using hydrogen peroxide can burn your mouth, so be sure to dilute it and rinse after 2 minutes. ^{[35]
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Board Certified Dentist

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How to Remove Tea Stains from Teeth

Steps

Using Homemade Remedies

Whitening Your Teeth

Preventing Stains

Expert Q&A

Tips

Warnings

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References

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