Green tea is not only a relaxing and richly flavored hot drink, but it could also be good for your oral health. Several studies have shown that swapping other beverages for green tea could have significant oral health benefits. Here are a few good reasons to include a cup of green tea in your daily routine.
1. Healthier Gums
A study involving 940 men aged between 49 and 59 showed that men who regularly drink green tea have fewer indicators of gum disease than those who don’t. Green tea drinkers have less bleeding when a dentist probes their gums and less gum tissue loss overall. The researchers believe that an antioxidant called catechin may help to suppress the inflammation that happens in gum disease.
2. Fewer Cavities
Studies show that green tea kills oral bacteria and makes saliva less acidic. Acid wears away the enamel coating that protects your teeth, leading to cavities. Bacteria produce acid, which contributes to this process. Therefore, the beneficial effects of green tea could help to prevent cavities.
3. Fresher Breath
Green tea’s antibacterial effects not only help to protect you against cavities, but also freshen your breath. Strong-smelling foods and drinks cause some bad breath cases, but bacteria are also a major contributing factor. When you get rid of the bacteria causing the bad smells, your breath should naturally smell fresher, even when you don’t have breath mints and gum to hand. In addition to its anti-bacterial properties, green tea has a subtle flavor that acts as a fresh alternative to the “coffee breath” many caffeine addicts suffer from. In studies, green tea led to better-smelling breath than chewing gum, mints and parsley oil.
Green tea is a fantastic drink for your oral health. Sugar-free and non-acidic, green tea is less harmful than many popular beverages, such as soda and juice. Studies suggest it could even have positive oral health effects, such as killing bacteria and preventing gum disease.
Professional Dental Care
Please note that drinking green tea is not a substitute for professional dental care. When you introduce green tea into your daily routine to protect your teeth, you still need to visit your dentist regularly for checkups. To make regular visits to the dentist more affordable, consider a dental plan from DentalSave.
