We Brits are fond of our tea. We are also stereotyped (especially amongst American fans of The Simpsons) for our bad teeth.
Now we know why.
It’s not just that Americans (and Canadians too, you smug bastards) are obsessed with having perfect teeth. It is because of tea. One of the most popular sources of tea — Ceylon, or Sri Lanka as it is known now — grows with the help of fluoride-rich water. The tea picks up the fluoride.
Fluoride is added to water to strengthen tooth enamel and reduce the number of calories, but if you take too much of it, it results in fluorosis; this makes your teeth brittle and discoloured. (How ironic!) Four cups of Ceylon tea will deliver enough fluoride to put you over the recommended daily maximum and yield you a smile like Austin Powers.
Of course, most Brits drink at least 12 cups a day — it is the best way to repress common nuisance emotions such as: embarrassment, shame, and any kind of joy.
New Scientist Story: Tea might pose fluoride risk
Comments are closed.