Go Green for Oral Health!

Green tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world, and it has received considerable attention because of its many scientifically proven beneficial effects on human health.

With origins dating back over 4,000 years, green tea has long been a popular beverage in Asian culture, and is increasingly gaining popularity in the United States. And while ancient Chinese and Japanese medicine believed green tea consumption could cure disease and heal wounds, recent scientific studies are beginning to establish the potential health benefits of drinking green tea, especially in weight loss, heart health, and cancer prevention.

Importantly, several recent studies also point out the dental benefits of drinking green tea. Researchers found that routine intake of green tea may also help promote healthy teeth and gums.

Green tea’s ability to help reduce symptoms of periodontal disease appear to be due to the presence of the antioxidant catechin. Previous research has demonstrated antioxidants’ ability to reduce inflammation in the body. By interfering with the body’s inflammatory response to periodontal bacteria, green tea may actually help promote periodontal health, and ward off further disease. Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth, and has been associated with the progression of other diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Here are just some of the study results relating to green tea and oral health:

Green Tea and Tooth Decay

The effects of green tea extract on caries inhibition of hamsters and on acid resistance of human tooth enamel have been suggested by both in vivo and in vitro studies. The results obtained from this study suggested that fluoride in green tea may play a role in preventing cavities, along with other components in tea. However, the action of fluoride does not seem to be so important because its concentration is very low. The effect of green tea on cavity inhibition as well as on the increment of acid resistance appears to be more correlative with the nondialysable substances in tea.

Green Tea and Periodontal Disease

• Various authors have studied the inhibitory effects of catechin contained in green tea on periodontal pathogens, which strongly support the daily consumption of green tea for periodontal health.
• One study found that green tea catechin inhibits the growth of P. gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Prevotella nigrescens and adherence of P. gingivalis on to human buccal epithelial cells.
• Another study showed green tea catechins, which are major tea polyphenols, inhibit production of toxic end metabolites of P. gingivalis.
• Yet another study showed that green tea catechin, inhibits the activity of P. gingivalis-derived collagenase.
• Alveolar bone resorption is a characteristic feature of periodontal disease and involves removal of both the mineral and the organic constituents of the bone matrix. One study concluded that green tea plays a role in the prevention of bone resorption.
• Oxidative stress plays an important role in periodontal disease as well as many other disorders, and it is believed that antioxidants can defend against inflammatory diseases.
• Daily intake of green tea was significantly associated with bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL), such that the more frequently subjects drank green tea, better was their periodontal condition. A study recently showed that the intake of green tea was inversely correlated with the mean PD, mean CAL and BOP (i.e., the more green tea you drank, the better your periodontal health results).

Green Tea Bad Breath

Bad breath, clinically “halitosis,” is caused mainly by volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) produced in the oral cavity. Because tea polyphenols have been shown to have antimicrobial and deodorant effects, researchers investigated whether green tea powder reduces VSCs in mouth air, and compared its effectiveness with that of other foods that are claimed to control halitosis. The study concluded that green tea was very effective in reducing oral malodor temporarily because of its disinfectant and deodorant activities, whereas other foods were not effective.

As to the amount, it appears that optimally 3-4 cups per day keeps the Tooth Fairy away. And make sure you don’t use too much sugar!

Think green. Drink green. Next time you are throwing a tea party, your teeth would really appreciate it If you were only serving green tea.

Keep smiling,  

Dr.Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD is a private practice dentist with offices in West Hartford Center and Downtown New Britain, Connecticut.  She is a Clinical Instructor at the UConn School of Dental Medicine, and has won several awards naming her regional “Best Dentist” and “Top Dentist.” She is an active member of the Connecticut State Dental Association and the American Dental Association. Tel: 860-561-2121