Green tea controls bacteria and lowers the acidity of saliva, reducing the buildup of dental plaque. A recent study conducted in Egypt tested people before and after rinsing with green tea.

Scientists in China looked at the effects of combining nano-hydroxyapatite a substance that helps rebuild tooth enamel and a green tea polyphenol known as EGCG.

They found that by applying this mixture to extracted wisdom teeth, they could protect the surface of the tooth, reducing sensitivity as well as cavities.

Researchers are looking into adding it to toothpaste to provide extra protection for the teeth. The antioxidants in green tea help protect against cellular damage and cancerous tumor growth.

One study done at Pennsylvania State University found that EGCG in addition to reducing tooth sensitivity has the ability to damage cancer cells in the mouth while promoting the health of normal cells. In another study conducted at the University of Texas, green-tea extract was given to patients with precancerous lesions in their mouths, and it slowed the progression of the lesions developing into oral cancer.

Coffee is popular and the most traded commodity, second only to oil, and tea is the second most-consumed beverage globally, next to water. In the United States, million people consume tea every day.

Legend has it that tea was discovered in BC by a Chinese emperor. He was sipping his boiled water when a wind blew some leaves from a nearby tree into his bowl, and voila, there it began.

Dissolve a black tea bag in hot water and soak a dirty pan to get rid of burnt spots. You could make potpourri, dye fabric, or use a lavender tea bag as a car air freshener. For centuries, tea has been known to have positive health effects. Honey has high antioxidant activity and, combined with the benefits of tea, makes it an excellent choice.

Tea is filled with flavonoids naturally that have antioxidant properties. The flavonoids help to neutralize free radicals, which contribute to chronic disease.

It releases neurotransmitters, one of which is gamma-aminobutyric acid GABA. GABA helps to regulate mood, and low levels can increase anxiety and sleep-related disorders. Chamomile tea has a chemical component called apigenin that can increase the effects of GABA and has been thought of as a relaxing drink before bed.

However, studies indicate the best results for improved sleep can only be gained through higher doses of apigenin, which can not be achieved through drinking chamomile tea alone.

Chamomile supplements, in the form of concentrated extracts, are the most effective way to achieve the doses needed to improve sleep quality and quantity.

Nevertheless, chamomile tea does provide some level of relaxation. This brings me to another popular tea — green tea — found on menus, coffee shops, and grocery store shelves across the United States. Did you know it has abundant benefits for oral health? The chemical composition of a green tea plant includes proteins, carbohydrates in the form of fructose, sucrose, and glucose, vitamins B, C, and E, caffeine, carotenoids, minerals, and trace elements.

Green tea is one of the least processed types of tea. It contains the most antioxidants and beneficial polyphenols; the most common are flavonols, also referred to as catechins. Their functions are grand: decrease blood cholesterol, body fat reduction, cancer prevention effect, tooth decay prevention, antibacterial effect, antioxidant, reduction in high blood pressure, and a halitosis preventer.

This study also found that when people meet socially more than ten friends and acquaintances a month , they drink 2.

Since green tea is often drunk when meeting socially in Japan, Associate Professor Aida and his colleagues believe that the more opportunities people have to consume green tea, they will keep more of their teeth. There are so many benefits to drinking green tea.

What are the cons? Green tea can lead to tooth stains. Green tea may stain teeth more than coffee. Since tea leaves contain tannins, which naturally stain teeth, it is inevitable to have stained teeth unless you drink water right after a cup of tea each time to help reduce the amount of tannin left in your mouth.

While tannin causes the teeth to have a dark blackish stain, it prevents cavities. In Japan, women used this tannin to make their teeth black to avoid cavities and, oddly, for cosmetic reasons until years ago.

Of course, Japanese people love white teeth now; that was long ago. If you think it is a hassle to wash your mouth after a cup of green tea or worry too much about staining your white teeth, there are more permanent solutions: porcelain veneers or prep-less veneers.

Dental veneers only get stains like natural enamel and retain their color and brightness if cracked or damaged. We had a patient who loved to drink tea. She drinks over 10 cups daily, from Assam to green tea. She frequently used teeth whitening gels and occasionally did a Zoom treatment.

Gum health Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammation in response to bacteria in the mouth, and it damages the gums and bone structure supporting the teeth.

Cavity prevention Because green tea controls bacteria and lowers the acidity of saliva and dental plaque, it may be a useful tool in preventing cavities. Less tooth loss It makes sense that a substance that helps prevent cavities and gum disease will help you keep your teeth.

Cancer control The antioxidants and other properties of green tea appear to protect against cellular damage and cancerous tumour growth. Better breath Green tea has been associated with better-smelling breath. Back to Blog. Invest in your smile and health, for now and the future.

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Facebook Instagram Youtube. Subscribe to newsletter. Email Required. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Is green tea good for your mouth? It can be, yes. Is green tea bad for your teeth? Also, sometimes yes.

What do we mean by that? A lot of the time people add other things to their tea. Like honey, sweeteners, etc. So hypothetically it might be better to drink more green tea in less time than it is less green tea over a longer period. A lot of people praise green tea for how it helps manage skin issues, diabetes, and even their blood pressure.

Besides the typical medical benefits of drinking green tea, are there any specific ways that it helps your mouth? Green tea contains natural antioxidants, which help combat inflammation, such as swollen, red gums. There are also certain compounds inside of the tea leaves that aid in healing and reducing bacterial levels.

In a study of almost 1, men , those who drank green tea each day had better gum health than the men who did not. Everything from the attachment level of their gums pocket depth to bleeding was analyzed.

Since periodontal disease contributes to tissue detachment and tooth loss, it was suggested that the anti-inflammatory benefits of green tea were thought to aid in deterring this common oral infection. Some dentists also recommend sipping on green tea after oral surgery, because of how it helps accelerate wound healing and limits bleeding.

In addition to its anti-inflammatory properties, there is also some research that suggests tea can help prevent bone resorption, which is the loss of bone structure from gum infection around the roots of teeth. Drinking green tea could help your tooth remineralize itself when fluoride or similar agents are applied such as through your toothpaste, mouthwash, or a prescription gel.

On a related note, the phenols inside green tea are also shown to limit the presence of the bacteria that form cavities on teeth. Almost to the point that some scientists recommend rinsing with green tea to help lower the risk and spread of tooth decay.

Unsweetened, of course. Similarly, the antioxidants in your green tea also impact the pH of your saliva and any plaque in your mouth, helping neutralize acid levels that are responsible for forming cavities in the first place. Bacteria are usually responsible for bad breath.

They can hide across your tongue, under your gums, and between teeth. Since green tea helps kill microbes in your mouth, it can help you better control any foul odors you might be concerned about.

A tongue scraper works great for that, and then you can let the green tea go after whatever little particles are left behind. To help reduce this, brush your teeth or rinse your mouth after drinking tea. For the healthiest drink, skip the lemon, sugar and honey.

Learn how dental implants can help you eat comfortably, feel more confident and offer more comfort than dentures. Here are four shopping list staples and their healthier, dentist-approved counterparts to pack your pantry. The oral health information on this website is intended for educational purposes only.

Always consult a licensed dentist or other qualified health care professional for any questions concerning your oral health.

Gum bleeding was also reduced. Drinking green tea, according to other studies, also helps prevent tooth decay. Green tea contains antioxidants, making it a good anti-inflammatory drink.

These properties help keep the gums healthy, which was proven in a survey of 1, Japanese men. The same positive results were found in a German study, where people who were asked to chew gums containing green tea extracts revealed healthier gums.

In , a Japanese research that includes both sexes revealed that natural teeth are more likely to stay if a person drinks one or more cups of green tea in a day. Green tea kills the microbes that give a foul smell to our mouths.

The Faculty of Dentistry at the University of British Columbia tested the effects of drinking green tea. In their study, they asked one group to drink green tea while another group was asked to chew gums and mints.

Even those who were given parsley-seed oil cannot compare with the powers of green tea. Cellular damage and growth of cancerous tumors can be reduced by the antioxidants and properties contained in green tea. The University of Texas conducted a study among patients with precancerous lesions in their mouths.

They found that oral cancer advancement slowed down. However, be sure to skip on sweeteners when drinking green tea. It is still better to take your green tea without any sweetener. While green tea is good for keeping your gums and teeth healthy, do not forget to visit a Hilliard dentist.

Getting your regular dental visits with Dr. James Voyles assures you have better oral health! Facebook X Instagram. gingivalis, and for caries reduction, catechins can play a supportive role.

One cup of green tea can inhibit the virulence factor of Streptococcus mutants through irreversible damage to the bacterial plasma membrane.

mutans amylase on tooth structure, preventing demineralization. Green tea can also help with halitosis. Volatile sulfide compounds give mouths that pungent smell by proteolytic reactions, mainly by anaerobic gram-negative bacteria that consume sulfur-containing substrates such as food, saliva, blood, and epithelial cells.

Green tea can reduce halitosis by suppressing anaerobic bacteria and eliminating the production of VSCs. A recommendation for smokers who struggle to kick the habit could be to consume green tea. The catechins present in green tea are capable of scavenging.

Remember there are caffeine-free options for green tea and, of course, precautions. For patients on anticoagulant therapy or bleeding disorder, patients should consult with their physician. In addition, consultation is warranted for patients with iron deficiency anemia and kidney and stomach problems, among other health conditions.

Antioxidants are terrific for overall health, including the mouth. As we move into a bright, progressive future in dentistry, capitalizing on our role as health care providers, nutritional suggestions should be in our wheelhouse.

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