The Sticky Truth: How Bubble Tea Stains Your Teeth & How To Prevent It
When it comes to drinks that cause tooth discoloration, coffee and alcohol initially come to mind. What most people don't know is that other drinks can also yellow your teeth — for instance, bubble tea.
While bubble tea seems to be less tooth staining because it looks milky than tea-ish, you got it wrong.
In this blog, we'll explore how bubble tea stains your teeth, ways to reduce yellowing without giving up your favorite drink, and how ClearClub can elevate your teeth-whitening routine.
📑 Table of Contents
What Is Bubble Tea, Really?
The History of Bubble Tea
According to National Geographic, bubble tea originated in Taiwan in 1986, with two tea houses — Chun Shui Tang and Hanlin Tea Room — both credited with inventing the drink. While their inspirations differed, the court later ruled bubble tea was never patented, meaning no single inventor officially owns it.
What’s In A Typical Bubble Tea?
Bubble tea, also known as boba tea, is often seen as the milder counterpart to coffee. It's typically made with four components: a tea base, milk or creamer, sugar or syrup, and texture-adding toppings. It's served in a transparent cup with a wide straw, allowing you to sip both the drink and it's add-ons.
Tapioca pearls (or boba) are the highlight of this sugary drink. Made from tapioca starch and sweeteners like sugar or molasses, they give bubble tea its signature chewy texture and dark color.
Beyond tapioca pearls, bubble tea may include pudding, fruit jellies, and popping boba. Common tea bases include black tea, green tea, oolong, and pu-erh.
Bubble tea may look harmless, but its sweet, chewy goodness can still leave a mark on your teeth.
Bubble Tea vs. Coffee: Which Stains Teeth More?
You might be wondering, which one is more tooth-staining, coffee or bubble tea? The answer really depends on the amount of tannins and sugar content.
Generally, coffee takes the lead in staining. It's loaded with tannins — the natural compounds that give foods and drinks their bitter taste and dark color — and these can cling to your teeth, leaving stubborn stains.
Bubble tea might seem milder, since milk tones down some of the tannins, but don't be fooled. Dark pearls and all that sugar still add up, leading to discoloration.
So, yes, coffee stains faster sip by sip, but over time, bubble tea's sugar, stickiness, and even a little tannin can make your teeth just as prone to yellowing.
How Does Bubble Tea Stain Your Teeth?
Unlike coffee, which makes tooth staining more obvious, bubble tea works the opposite way — it sneakily yellows your teeth. Below are four ways bubble tea stains your teeth.
Dark Pigments From the Tea
Common tea bases used in bubble tea include black tea, green tea, oolong, and pu-erh. While all of these teas naturally contain tannins, black tea has the highest concentration, followed by oolong, with green tea having the lowest. When consumed regularly — especially black tea — these tannins can cling to your enamel and cause yellowing over time.
Sticky Tapioca Pearls
Just like we've mentioned earlier, tapioca pearls are made of starch and a sweetener, either sugar or molasses, making it sticky in nature. Gooey foods stick to the exterior part of your teeth, increasing the possibility of developing cavities, gum disease, and yellowing teeth.
Artificially Colored Syrups
According to Better Boba, commercially produced bubble tea often contains artificial dyes such as FD&C Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, and Blue No. 1. Healthline notes that while these dyes are widely used, some have been linked to health risks, prompting the FDA to revise regulations on their use in U.S. foods.
Beyond general health, the pigments in these dyes can also cling to tooth enamel, which may contribute to noticeable discoloration over time.
Sugar In The Drink
As explained in a nutrition specialist article on CarePlus, a medium-sized bubble tea can contain about 40g of sugar, which exceeds the World Health Organization's recommended ideal intake of 25g of free sugars per day. Excess sugar feeds bacteria in your mouth, promoting tooth decay and bad breath while making your enamel more susceptible to discoloration.
How to Reduce Tooth Stains Without Giving Up Bubble Tea
We get it — bubble tea is irresistable when cravings hit. Instead of cutting it out completely, why not enjoy it the smart way? Here are 5 tips to reduce tooth discoloration while still sipping your favorite drink:
- Watch your sugar. Before ordering your usual bubble tea, opt for 0-25% sugar — milk and boba already add sweetness. Less sugar means less bacterial growth and weaker enamel.
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Use milder tea bases and sweeteners. If possible, ask your tea barista to use less tooth-staining options like green tea or light oolong. For sweetness, clear sugar syrup or light honey syrup are better choices than dark, molasses-based sweeteners.
- Rinse after drinking. Sip water after enjoying bubble tea and its sticky pearls to help wash away pigments and protect your teeth.
- Use a straw. Since tapioca pearls are nearly impossible to sip without one anyway, a straw helps limit how much of the drink coats your teeth — reducing the chances of discoloration.
- Upgrade your oral care routine with whitening products. In addition to brushing twice a day and flossing regularly, consider using products with a whitening effect, such as the ClearClub Teeth Whitening Kit or Cleaning + Whitening Foam.
Best Whitening Products for Tea-Stained Teeth
Wanna sip your bubble tea without stressing about stains? ClearClub's Teeth Whitening Kit has three strengths — 10%, 20%, and 30% — so you can brighten your smile at your own pace, no pain, no stress. See results in just 1-2 days.
Prefer a gentler option? Our Cleaning + Whitening Foam (10%) cleanses and whitens at the same time, perfect for overnight use and safe to swallow. If you enjoy your first try, you can subscribe to our renewal plan for a hassle-free whitening routine!
No need to cut back on your favorite drinks — just cheat your way to a brighter smile. Shop ClearClub today!
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is bubble tea bad for your teeth?
Bubble tea can be tough on your teeth because it often contains sugar, acidic ingredients, and dark teas that cause stains. Enjoying it occasionally is fine, but making it a regular habit can kickstart or worsen tooth discoloration.
❓ Can chewing tapioca pearls damage your teeth?
It can. Tapioca pearls are starchy, pigmented, and sticky, which makes them cling to your teeth. If your enamel is weak, the pigments can seep in more easily. Plus, their sugar content feeds bacteria, which can accelerate yellowing.
❓ What’s better for teeth: bubble tea or coffee?
Neither. Both drinks are rich in tannins, the compounds that give foods and beverages their bitterness and color. Coffee may stain faster, but regular consumption of either can still lead to tooth discoloration.
Looking for something else? Check our full FAQs section.