Why Does Tea Make My Mouth Dry: And How To Tackle The Problem
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Why Does Tea Make My Mouth Dry
Despite the diuretic effect of caffeine, evidence suggests that both herbal and caffeine-containing teas are unlikely to dehydrate you, so you may well ask ‘why does tea make my mouth dry‘ as this would seem to be the most obvious cause.
Why Does My Tongue Feel Weird After Drinking Tea
The tannins in tea can cause a temporary numbing or tingling sensation on the tongue. This is because tannins are astringent, meaning they can shrink and harden tissues.
It appears the astringency of tea is primarily due to the presence of tannins. When tea is brewed, the tannins in the leaves are released, which then bind to proteins in saliva reducing lubricity. These tannins are a type of polyphenol and have astringent properties. This means that they cause the tissues in the mouth to shrink, which can lead to a dry feeling.
The dry mouth sensation you experience once you’ve had a cup of tea can be rather unpleasant but thankfully there are a few ways to avoid this problem. Before we consider the issues and solutions that may be spoiling your enjoyment of this popular beverage, let’s explore tea tannins a little further as we try to answer the question – why does tea make my mouth dry?
What Are Tannins
Tannins are a natural part of every tea plant and are produced as a natural defense against pests. They lend bitter and astringent flavors to many drinks including tea, wine, and beer. Tannins are a type of polyphenol and contribute to the health benefits, flavor, and color of tea. All tea contains tannins and this includes some herbal tisanes.
However, different tea types have varying amounts but generally, lower-quality teas tend to have higher tannin levels. Other factors such as how the tea is produced, water temperature, and steeping time can all impact the tannin content in your cup.
As we have already established tannins have various health benefits. This is due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. However, there is also some scientific evidence that suggests that tea tannins have been shown to have a number of potential negative effects on the body including reducing the absorption of nutrients, interfering with the absorption of medications, and contributing to gastrointestinal problems.
Most studies demonstrate that the negative effect of tannins is often related to overconsumption, and the many benefits that drinking tea has to offer far outweigh any potential downsides. To reduce the effect of tea tannins on the body, it is best to drink tea between meals instead of with food. Additionally, it is believed that adding milk to tea can help to reduce the binding of tannins to proteins
What Determines The Amount Of Tannins Resulting In A Dry Mouth
The concentration of tea tannins in a cup is largely determined by the type of tea leaves used to make the beverage. However, there are several factors that can influence the level of tannins in a cup of tea, including the amount of tea used and quality, steeping time, water quality, quantity, and temperature.
Tea
All tea types are different and as such their tannin levels vary depending on the variety, processing methods, and growing conditions. For example, evidence suggests a correlation between altitude and astringency, and higher tannin levels tend to be found in fast-growing young tea plants due to the role in growth that tannins play.
If you are getting a bitter taste from your tea, check the type of tea you are using. In general, darker teas such as black and green tea have a higher tannin content, and teas such as oolong and white tea have considerably lower tannin levels. Since it is the tannin in tea that gives it a darker coloring, it makes sense that teas with a higher level of tannin generally have a darker color.
When the tea leaves are more oxidized, you can expect a deeper color and a higher level of tannins because tannins are released after the organic matter is broken down. As black tea leaves are heavily oxidized they produce some of the highest tannin levels.
Another reason for your tea tasting bitter may be down to the use of poor-quality tea. Chopped or crushed leaves found in tea bags are more likely to become bitter when brewing, as the increased surface area of the leaves allows for quicker extraction of tannins. On the other hand, if you opt for loose leaf tea be mindful of the amount of tea you are using – the stronger the tea the higher the concentration of tannins in your brew.
Steeping
Steeping tea is the process of adding hot water to tea leaves in order to extract the flavor and health-promoting compounds from the leaves. Steeping times vary depending on the type of tea being brewed and personal preference.
Longer steeping times and agitating the brewing tea will extract more tannins contributing to sharp, bitter flavors and resulting dry mouth. Even the finest teas can taste bitter if not prepared in the correct way so be sure to follow any accompanying recommendations for each different type of tea at least as a starting point.
Water
Your tea flavor starts with the quality of tea leaves used but the quality of your water is also very important when trying to brew a flavorsome cup that doesn’t dry the mouth.
The level of tannins that are extracted from the tea leaves can depend on the amount of water used and the temperature. So the measure of tea to water ratio is worth considering as tannins will be more dominant with a higher tea leaf to water quantity.
Tea leaves are delicate, and using extremely hot water can make their fragile compounds taste bitter. As you increase water temperature you are increasing the level of astringency in your cup. The temperature of the water you use will vary depending on the tea type so in order to find the perfect level of astringency for you it’s important to adjust the water temperature appropriately.
How Best To Avoid Tea Induced Dry Mouth
Astringency can be a key part of the tea-drinking experience. It gives each brew its distinctive character and unique physicality, extending the perceived duration of flavor. A lack of astringency can leave your beverage rather flat and uninspired. However, I’m sure we all agree that there needs to be a balance in order to produce a delicious beverage that doesn’t dry the mouth.
Astringency can be an extraordinarily personal experience as what works for one may well not work for another. So let’s look at some ways to avoid or reduce the dry mouth effect for those who find the resulting oral sensations less than desirable.
- Try to avoid excessive tea consumption, and find the optimum level that works for you.
- Check the quality and type of tea you’re drinking
- Switch to a tea type that has lower tannin levels such as oolong or white tea. Remember tea variety has an effect on astringency.
- Add milk or lemon to your tea to reduce the potential negative effects – milk can bind to tannins, reducing their effectiveness.
- Reduce the level of tannin in your cup by steeping your tea for a shorter amount of time.
- Control water temperature for a smoother drinking experience.
- Reduce the amount of tea being used in your brew.
- Address the leaf-to-water ratio.
- Try eating a small snack with your cuppa to offset the drying nature of tea tannins as chewing can increase saliva production.
- Some people believe that adding gelatin to tea reduces the tannins present in the beverage, however, there is limited scientific evidence to support this claim.
- One potential way to reduce the tannin content in brewed tea is to rinse the leaves with cold water before brewing. This can help to remove some of the tannins from the surface of the leaves and ultimately lead to a beverage with reduced tannin levels. Some research suggests that this method can be effective, but further studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Other Common Causes Of A Dry Mouth
The term ‘dry mouth’ is used to describe a condition in which the salivary glands do not produce enough saliva to keep the mouth moist. Saliva is important for keeping the mouth healthy, as it helps to wash away bacteria and food particles and keeps the teeth and gums healthy.
Dry mouth can be caused by a number of different things such as:
- Dehydration This can be due to not drinking enough fluids, diarrhea, and excessive sweating.
- Anxiety This can affect the flow of saliva leading to a dry mouth.
- Medications Such as antihistamines, decongestants, pain medications, and diuretics.
- Mouth Breathing Your mouth doesn’t typically humidify the air you inhale, unlike your nasal passages.
- Allergies When your nasal passages are blocked you are forced to mouth breathe more than usual.
- Oral Thrush This is a fungal infection that can cause a dry mouth.
- Menopause Due to declining estrogen levels.
- Long Term Health Conditions such as diabetes and asthma.
- Tobacco and Alcohol These can both contribute to a dry mouth.
- Diet Such as salty and spicy foods.
Tips To Relieve A Dry Mouth
Listed below are some ideas you can try to help relieve a dry mouth however if there is no improvement or you have any other associated symptoms or concerns, then please see your healthcare provider for advice:-
- Drink plenty of cold water or unsweetened drinks-taking regular sips throughout the day.
- Chew sugar-free gum, this encourages saliva production.
- Suck on ice cubes or ice lollies.
- Try to avoid salty or spicy foods.
- Reduce alcohol, fizzy drinks, and caffeine consumption.
- Try to cut down or stop smoking.
- Check the side effects of any medications you are taking.
- Ensure good oral hygiene – brush teeth twice daily, use alcohol-free mouthwash, attend regular dental check-ups, and moisturize your lips.
- Add moisture to the air at night – try using a room humidifier.
- Breathe through your nose and not your mouth as much as possible.
Conclusion
Tannins provide a unique taste to your morning brew and generally appear to be good for you due to their antioxidant activity. However, excessive consumption can have negative effects on some people, potentially leading to uncomfortable symptoms such as dry mouth, stomach ache, and nausea.
It is important to notice how your body responds to different tea types and qualities, together with the amount of tea being consumed. Add to this a little experimentation with brewing times and water temperature and hopefully, you’ll no longer be having to ask the question – “why does tea make my mouth dry“, as you will have found the perfect tea blend that works for you.
Can Drinking Tea Dehydrate You?
One potential concern about drinking tea is that it may have a dehydrating effect. This dehydration could potentially be caused by the caffeine in tea, especially when consumed in large quantities, as caffeine is a diuretic. However, research on this topic has yielded mixed results, with some studies indicating that tea does have a dehydrating effect and others not finding this to be the case.
Does Decaf Tea Cause Dry Mouth?
Decaf tea has undergone a process of decaffeination, with the aim being to remove the caffeine and not the tannins however, that is not to say that some of the tannins may also be removed during this process. Even so, as studies suggest that the tannins in tea contribute to a dry mouth it appears entirely possible for decaf tea to have the same effect.
It is also important to note that although tea may be labeled decaf it can still contain low levels of caffeine depending on how it is produced, this may be another contributing factor to a dry mouth as caffeine has been shown to decrease saliva production.
Do Tea Tannins Stain Teeth?
Although tea may offer a lot of health advantages, it can also be to blame for discoloring your teeth due to its tannin content. Tannins are responsible for giving teas their color and bitterness and the deeper the color of the tea, the more likely it is to cause staining.
