6 Ways Drinking Green Tea Can Help you Get a Healthy Smile
The health benefits of green tea have long been studied and documented, but did you know it could benefit your oral health? Green tea is full of antioxidants. It also has anti-bacterial compounds that appear to combat bacterial infection as well as control inflammation in the body. So how does that affect your oral health? Keep on reading to find out the 6 ways that drinking green tea can help maintain your healthy smile!
Maintain Periodontal Health (Gums)
Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, green tea can help you maintain healthy gums. A key study in Japan showed that those who drank green tea regularly had healthier gums than those who didn’t. Inflammation and bleeding are the first signs of gum disease, so drink up to help keep gum disease at bay.
Prevent Tooth Decay (Cavities)
Green tea controls the level of bacteria in your mouth by reducing the acidity of saliva, thereby reducing the incidence of plaque and therefore cavities. An Egyptian study showed that those who rinsed with green tea for 5 minutes had lower levels of acid in their saliva afterwards. This simple rinse could help decrease the risk for cavities in your mouth!
Minimize Tooth Loss
Since green tea can help prevent cavities and gum disease, it follows that it would prevent tooth loss. In fact, a Japanese study showed that people who drank 1 or more cups of green tea per day held on to more of their teeth throughout their lifetime.
Control Oral Cancer
Antioxidants in green tea appear to combat cancer cell growth and cellular damage. A study at the University of Texas gave green tea extract to patients with precancerous lesions in the mouth and it appeared to slow the growth of the lesions.
Keep Your Teeth Whiter
Unlike black tea, which can stain your teeth, green tea is light in color. So it won’t stain your teeth. After a whitening treatment I always tell my patients if they need to drink tea, make it green!
Stop Bad Breath
Nobody likes bad breath after a tasty meal. The antioxidants in green tea have been shown to work better than mints or chewing gum at getting rid of bad breath. This is because green tea is naturally anti-bacterial and kills the bad bacteria that cause the stinky breath.
So, if you want to drink tea, then be sure to choose green tea to help benefit and maintain your oral health. Remember a healthy smile is always in style!
Toot-a-loo,
Here’s a quick tip on how to brew green tea properly. Boil water, then let it cool for 3 minutes. Pour the water on your green tea leaves, and let it steep for another 3 minutes, then enjoy!