If you want to prevent gum disease naturally, green tea might be your answer.
Many people are well aware of the multiple health benefits that green tea has on the human body. It contains multiple antioxidants and nutrients that, among other things, can help with improved brain function, fat loss, and a lower cancer risk, to name a few. What is less known, however, are the health effects that green tea has on our teeth and gums. Below are some of the latest research on the subject.
Prevent gum disease naturally: drink green tea
In 2009, a study published in the Journal of Periodontology, the official publication of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), uncovered yet another benefit of green tea consumption. Dr. Yoshihiro Shimazaki of Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan found that routine intake of green tea may also help promote healthy teeth and gums. The study analyzed the periodontal health of 940 men aged 49 through 59, and found that those who regularly drank green tea had superior periodontal health than subjects that consumed less green tea. So if you want to prevent naturally, green tea is certainly a good option.
STRONGER TEETH
New research in preventive medicine found that drinking one cup of green tea or more per day will help prevent tooth loss as we get older. Yasushi Koyama of Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine and his colleagues have followed more than 25,000 Japanese men and women aged between 40 to 64 and concluded that green tea might have a bactericidal effect which is beneficial for our teeth. Alfredo Morabia at Columbia University and editor of Preventative Medicine wrote an editorial accompanying the new research claiming that catechins found in green tea could be the reason of the benefit green tea offers for our teeth. Catechins, which are a type of natural phenol and antioxidant, seem to have the ability to kill the bacteria causing tooth decay and gum disease.
Because green tea controls bacteria and lowers the acidity of saliva and dental plaque, it may be a useful tool to prevent gum disease naturally but also in preventing cavities. A recent Egypt-based study tested people before and after they gave their mouths a five-minute rinse with green tea. The test subjects had less bacteria and acid in their mouths, as well as reduced gum bleeding.
BETTER BREATH
Green tea has been associated with better-smelling breath. Why? Likely because it kills the microbes that make our mouths stinky. Faculty members from the School of Dentistry at the University of British Columbia measured the level of stinky compounds in people’s mouths after they had been given green tea powder or other substances that were suspected to help with bad breath. Surprisingly, green tea had better results than chewing gum or mints.
There are, however, some cons to drinking not just green tea, but tea in general. Tea can stain your teeth, especially if you drink a lot of it on a regular basis. Nonetheless, if you brush regularly and have periodic hygiene appointments at the dental office, you can easily overcome this problem. You can also whiten your teeth frequently so you can continue to have a white beautiful smile.
If you want to learn more about the benefits of Green Tea or other natural remedies for improved oral health, feel free to email or call us at
Email: contact@OceanBreezeProsthodontics.com
Phone: (561) 279-6999
