Can Green Tea Improve Your Oral Health?

Over the past few years, research has emerged touting the many oral health benefits of green tea. According to numerous studies, the soothing, warm elixir can lower your risk for a range of systemic diseases, including cardiovascular disorders and diabetes. Additionally, many health and beauty experts claim that green tea helps treat acne and calm puffy eyes. Several very recent studies have even examined whether this seemingly miraculous drink can address oral health issues, as well. Your Lake Forest dentist, Dr. James Fondriest, will discuss two of these findings as well as addressing what many dental professionals consider a major drawback of tea.

Green Tea for Healthy Gums

According to a study conducted by Kyushu University in Japan, drinking one or two cups of green tea every day can reduce the symptoms of gum disease and bad breath. At the heart of the study were catechins, a key compound in green tea that has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body. Scientist tested subjects suffering from gum disease who drank at least one daily cup of green tea. The researchers found that green tea reduced the depth of periodontal pockets, reducing bleeding gums and connective tissue loss associated with periodontal infections.

Green tea consumption for healthy teeth

Green tea can contribute to healthy teeth in two ways. First, when consumed after a meal or snack, this clear, sugarless beverage works just like water, washing away bits of food and sugar from between your teeth. Second, studies demonstrate that green tea has an antimicrobial effect on S. mutans, the bacteria responsible for tooth decay. Of course, if you add sugar to your green tea, you will lose all of the associated oral health benefits.

Will Green Tea Stain Your Teeth?

Perhaps the only real drawback of green tea is its ability to leave stains on your tooth enamel. However, green tea does not stain nearly as much as other beverages such as coffee and black tea. These trace stains can be effectively cleaned using a mildly abrasive  toothpaste, brushing with baking soda once or twice a week, or even receiving a professional teeth whitening treatment. The wide ranging oral health benefits of green tea far outweigh its staining power.

Learn more about the oral health benefits of drinking green tea

We encourage you to enjoy green tea every day for enhanced oral health – but remember to skip the sugar. A 60045 cosmetic dentist, Dr. Fondriest proudly offers general and cosmetic dentistry services to patients from the North Shore suburbs near Chicago.