British dietitian Ellie Cheale has embraced one of Singapore’s favourite drinks so enthusiastically that it has apparently started showing up at her dentist’s appointments.
Cheale, a registered dietitian and nutritionist based in Singapore, revealed in an Instagram video that her dentist had noticed grey staining on her teeth. When asked what she had been drinking, Cheale said she regularly had teh c siew dai, or less-sweet milk tea. Her dentist immediately connected the daily tea habit with the discolouration.
But giving up teh c was not something Cheale wanted to do.
Instead, she began looking for ways to reduce the staining while continuing to enjoy her favourite drink. In her Sept 15 Instagram reel, she showed herself drinking teh c siew dai through a straw and said her dentist had also advised her to drink water afterwards.
The post quickly attracted suggestions from Singaporeans, with some recommending rinsing the mouth with plain water immediately after drinking tea or coffee. Others suggested brushing the teeth, while one commenter warned Cheale to be careful about using a straw with hot drinks.
There is some dental reasoning behind the discussion. SingHealth says frequent consumption of coffee, tea and wine can contribute to extrinsic tooth staining because pigments can accumulate on the surface of the teeth. The healthcare institution also notes that there is limited evidence that drinking through a straw prevents staining, while rinsing the mouth with water after consuming tea or coffee can help reduce prolonged contact between the colouring compounds and teeth.
Cheale’s relationship with teh c is clearly more than a passing fascination. After nearly five years in Singapore, she said in an August Instagram post that she had been “officially converted”, highlighting teh c siew dai peng, kaya and other local favourites among the foods she now enjoys.
For people unwilling to give up tea or coffee, maintaining good oral hygiene and regular dental care remain important. SingHealth also lists professional scaling and polishing among measures that can help manage surface discolouration, while tooth whitening may be considered in appropriate cases under professional supervision.
So while Cheale may have found her favourite Singapore drink, she is now discovering the trade-off that many regular tea and coffee drinkers know all too well: sometimes the hardest part of a daily caffeine ritual is keeping the smile just as bright.
