Aside from being a real treat for your taste buds. Drinking green tea daily might also benefit your teeth, gums, and overall oral health.
Recent studies conclude that compounds present in green tea could have a positive effect on controlling inflammation. Green tea might also factor in fighting bacterial infections.
Additionally, due to its high antioxidants rate, consuming green tea it´s associated with many other health benefits. In 2016, researchers found out green tea contains antimicrobial molecules known as “catechins.”
These molecules are believed to help get rid of bacteria responsible for causing gum disease and tooth decay.
Here, we bring you some tips to help you discover the dental benefits of drinking tea. Let´s begin!
Green Tea: 5 Oral Health Benefits
May reduce the risk of oral cancer
One such benefit of consuming green tea is that, thanks to its previously-mentioned high antioxidants rate. Green tea might be able to protect your organism from cellular damage.
In fact, one study by the University of Texas revealed that drinking five or more cups of green tea a day helps slow down (and even inhibit) oral cancerous tumour growth.
Prevents tooth decay/cavities
Although it´s most known for reducing dental plaque and the acidity of saliva, green tea also has many bacteria-controlling properties.
Because of this, drinking green tea also helps in the prevention of tooth decay (and the eventual formation of cavities).
In one recent study, subjects were tested before (and after) rinsing their mouths with green tea for 5 minutes.
The results confirmed that their mouths presented not only fewer bacteria and acid. There was also a reduction in gum bleeding.
Reduces risk of gum disease
The chronic inflammation of the gums (known as periodontal disease) affects not only your gums. It also damages the teeth-supporting bone structure.
Gum disease has been associated with other conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Green tea´s anti-inflammatory ability positively affects gum health, thus preventing periodontal disease processes.
Helps reduce plaque buildup
Due to its high level of polyphenols, Green tea is also well-known for helping reduce the buildup of sticky plaque in the arteries.
Green tea´s plaque-prevention, curbing, and elimination properties also work wonderfully in your teeth. However, although it brings you many dental health benefits, green tea also has one downside.
Consuming green tea might likely stain your teeth. So, to avoid this, consider drinking it from a straw or drinking water immediately afterwards.
Better breath
As it kills those microbes associated with bad breath, green tea and better breath tend to go hand in hand.
In a study conducted by the University of British Columbia, subjects were given green tea powder, parsley-seed oil, and chewing gum.
After this, researchers measured the levels of the bad-breath-producing compounds present in the subjects´ mouths. It revealed that green tea outperformed all other bad-breath prevention substances.
So, if you´re an avid coffee drinker. These five tips to discover the dental benefits of green tea might make you consider swapping your early morning drink.
Nonetheless, if you´re not up for tea drinking. There´re many natural oral care products containing green tea. Plus, there´re many sugarless candies and chewing gum made out of it.
Other than being loaded with antioxidants (which bring many oral health benefits). Green tea provides the added benefit of helping keep your mouth and teeth in top shape.