What Are The Oral Health Benefits of Green Tea?

Green tea has been hailed for its health benefits and can be enjoyed as a drink for thousands of years globally, particularly in East Asia. The tea is made from the leaves and buds of the tea plant as Camellia sinensis plant. There are dozens of different types of green tea in the market with different preparation and processing methods as well as different flavor profiles. 

Whatever type of green tea you purchase and enjoy, you can sip easily, knowing it is one of the world’s healthiest beverages, having great health benefits from head to toe. Make sure you drink the unsweetened tea since added sugar will offset all its health benefits as well as its natural, delicious flavor.

It is indeed a treat for your taste buds. But new research suggests that it green tea benefits the rest of your oral cavity as well. Green tea contains substances that appear to control inflammation and fight the bacterial infection. This drink is also rich in antioxidants, which have many health properties.

So what does that mean for your mouth? Here are several reasons why the tea may be suitable for your oral health.

Green Tea and Cavity Protection

Green tea rich in antioxidants has potent bacteria-killing properties, and drinking this tea lowers the acidity of your saliva and dental plaque. Multiple research and studies have shown that regularly drinking unsweetened tea can help protect against tooth cavities and prevent tooth decay to a large extent.

An additional benefit of drinking this tea has been highlighted in a study researching the polyphenols found in this tea. Tooth cavities are formed when these oral bacteria grow around your teeth. These bacteria produce acids that slowly soften or demineralize the tooth structures. 

As the area of these soft tooth structures enlarges, eventually, it forms a void that you call a cavity. This opening can enlarge so much that the tooth collapses or the nerve is exposed, causing pain unless the tooth needs treatment. The polyphenols in green tea can cause an antimicrobial effect against all the mouth germs,  thus reducing the bacteria to grow in large quantities that cause cavities.

Green Tea and Gum Health

Interestingly, green tea contains flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory benefits. If you regularly drink this tea, it can help reduce gingivitis. Gingivitis is primarily the inflammation of gums and the earliest stage of gum disease. Green tea can also help reduce other inflammation-based issues, including: dandruff, acne, skin diseases like psoriasis, arthritis, and more. 

A recent study found that this tea has many antioxidants that can reduce the diseases that attack your teeth and the tooth-supporting structures. The study also analyzed gum health in almost 1000 men and found that people who regularly drank green tea had better gum health than those who did not drink.

The antioxidant catechin found in this tea may be responsible for this health-giving benefit. Prior studies have confirmed that antioxidants can reduce inflammation in the body. The harmful bacteria in your gums cause periodontal disease, inflammation in the gum and bone surrounding your teeth. When the antioxidant interferes with this inflammation, your body preserves the bone that would otherwise be lost. Resulting in loose and missing teeth.

Periodontal disease, as it progresses, is a chronic inflammatory disease that might severely affect your gums and bone, which surrounds the tooth. These surrounding bones and gums enable your teeth to function in eating and speaking. Remember, gum disease has also been linked to heart disease and diabetes.

Other Green Tea Oral Health Benefits

1 Better Breath

Oral bacteria primarily cause bad breath. Green tea’s antibacterial properties help kill microbes that make your mouths stinky. In a recent study, researchers measured the level of smelly compounds in people’s mouths after they had the tea powder or other bad-breath reducing substances. This study concluded that the tea outperformed bad-breath reducing substances like mint, chewing gum and parsley-seed oil.

2 Reduce Risk of Cancers

Oxidative stress and damage highly contribute to the development of cancer. Many studies have shown that regular drinkers of this tea are significantly less likely to develop several different types of cancer, including oral cancer and tongue cancer. Primarily because this tea is an excellent source of antioxidants. 

In one of the studies, this tea extract was given to patients who had precancerous lesions in their mouths. It has been observed that this tea has been shown to slow the progression of oral cancer. This tea also helps lower the risk of other serious health issues and diseases, like type 2 diabetes and stroke as these chronic diseases have been linked to regular tea consumption.

3 Less tooth loss

Interestingly, green tea can also help you keep your teeth. According to Japanese research published in 2010, men and women who drink a few cups of green tea a day were more likely to hold on to their natural teeth in the long teeth.

More Health Benefits of Drinking Green Tea

1 Heart Healthy

Green tea contains significant amounts of polyphenols and flavonoids, powerful antioxidants that protect your heart by reducing “bad” (LDL) and total cholesterol levels. These antioxidants also help control blood pressure and blood fats. Moreover, drinking green tea regularly can reduce your risk of blood clots. The tea can also improve blood vessel function and lower rates of arterial blockage. 

2 Supports Brain Function and Health

Both amino acid L-theanine and the caffeine present in green tea work together to improve brain function and health. Note that green tea does not contain as much caffeine as coffee. Meaning the tea has enough caffeine to produce a response. But the caffeine amount is not enough to result in a distracting jittery effect, which means it can help you stay focused and alert.

3 Helps Promote Weight Loss

The tea may boost the metabolic rate in the short term. Some studies also indicate that drinking several cups of unsweetened version daily can lead to increased weight loss, particularly belly fat. Does that sound interesting, a simple tip to reduce your stubborn belly fat without exercise and treatment? 

Tips for Drinking Green Tea

Do you want your daily diet to include more greens‘ meaning green tea? It is likely safe to consume up to five cups a day for that reason. But to get the maximum health and flavor benefits, make sure you prepare your tea properly. 

First, prepare a ceramic teapot by warming it with hot water. For the tea, you should use fresh, cold water. You can use filtered water or water from a spring, if possible, instead of the usual tap. After bringing this water to a boil, let it cool for a few minutes. Then pour it over the tea bag or tea leaves and let it steep, covered, for three more minutes.

You must think that your teeth are set because you are already drinking black tea? Keep in mind that black tea is more processed, and hence it contains fewer antioxidants and beneficial plant chemical compounds compared to green tea.

Black tea is also twice or thrice higher in caffeine content. So it is more likely to cause side effects such as sleep disturbances and nervousness. High caffeine intake can also interfere with some medications, so ask your doctor or dentist if you are on special medication.

So these tips might not be of much use if you are not a tea drinker. There are other solutions as well. You can try oral care products that contain green tea, such as mouthwash and toothpaste that contain this natural product. Not to worry, you can even chew gum or suck on candies prepared with green tea – as long as they are sugarless. But if you do enjoy tea, you should still reach for this natural green product only thinking about your health.

Final Thoughts

As with all healthy drinks and food choices, drinking unsweetened tea alone is not a miracle solution or cure. You should include it with a good oral and overall health care routine. But packed with powerful and potent  antioxidants, green tea might be the healthiest beverage in the world.

This healthy weight-loss tip is an easy way to stay in shape, and after knowing all the health benefits, don’t you think you should try to add it to your daily diet?

Centuries ago, green tea was initially consumed and prized by emperors, Buddhist priests, and scholars. Today, this tea can be enjoyed by anyone for its delicious flavor and all-around health benefits.