HOW IS TEA EFFECTIVE FOR ORAL HEALTH
Tea is generally beneficial for human health. As tea is helpful for the human body and organs, it is also beneficial to oral health.
Teas have constituents that are good for the teeth and the entire mouth. These constituents include;
- Fluoride
Most teas contain fluoride, which helps to prevent tooth decay. Fluoride is an ingredient that is found in most foods and toothpaste. Tea has a high percentage of fluoride. In addition to preventing tooth decay, it makes the teeth healthier and more robust.
- Alkaline
Teas are alkaline. The alkaline nature of teas makes them valuable to the teeth. Teas can help to neutralize the acidity in the mouth. This helps in protecting the enamel of the teeth.
- Polyphenols
Teas contain polyphenols which are micro-nutrients. These micro-nutrients help to combat and kill bacteria. Polyphenol helps the teeth to curb and reduce bad breath, gum inflammation, and diseases.
In this article, we shall discuss the effects of tea on oral health.
Advantages of teas to the oral health
Teas have components and properties that are important to make the mouth healthy. Some of which are;
Alkalinity, Catechin, Fluoride, Polyphenols, etc.
These properties/ components have made tea very helpful to oral health.
Below are some of the advantages of tea to oral health.
- It helps your breath smell better
Bad breath can be a significant issue for people. It can make people have low self-esteem and unable to speak freely.
Teas help to reduce bad breath as it fights against and kill bacteria that causes bad breath.
- It prevents inflammation
Due to its content, an example of which is a polyphenol, tea is known to be anti-inflammatory. This anti-inflammatory property helps control gum inflammation, gum diseases, and bad breath. It can also help to prevent the loss of teeth.
- It helps in tooth remineralization
Research has shown that immersing a demineralized tooth in tea helps to reverse the demineralization process. The demineralized tooth will harden after it has been dipped in tea, mainly green tea.
Another research has shown that the temperature of the tea will determine if the tea will help in remineralization or demineralization. A tea with a low temperature will aid remineralization, while teas with a high temperature will do the opposite, i.e., it will help demineralization.
- It prevents cavities
One of the benefits of taking tea is that it helps prevent cavities. Cavities are formed from bacteria that grow around the teeth in the mouth. Bacteria formed in the mouth produce acids that soften and demineralize the teeth.
The content of the teeth that is responsible for these advantages of teeth is a polyphenol. Polyphenol is found in tea, and it has an anti-microbial and anti-bacteria effect that fights against the germs found in the mouth.
- It promotes gum health
Some teas are rich in catechin, which is an anti-oxidant. Research has shown that antioxidants decrease inflammation. Bacteria cause inflammation and disease in the gum and bones surrounding the teeth.
Disadvantages of tea to the oral health
It is common knowledge that whatever has an advantage will definitely have a disadvantage. As teas have advantages, they also have disadvantages. This part article will discuss the disadvantages of tea to oral health.
Taking tea is an excellent thing as it is a healthy drink. It benefits general health, but there are some things you need to beware of. These are the adverse effect of taking teas consistently.
- Staining
Teas contain tannin. Tannin is a substance that is sometimes yellowish or brownish. This substance gives the tea its color. The brown or yellow color of teas gives it the ability to stain the teeth.
- It can cause cavities
The tea itself cannot cause cavity damage to the teeth, but some of the things people add to the tea can cause cavities. Things like sugar and honey that are added to teas will damage the teeth due to their sweet and sugary nature. People also add acidic things like lemon to their tea. Lemon is acidic, and the acid will erode the enamel of the teeth. The temperature of your teeth can also affect oral health. Too hot or iced tea can also cause erosion of the enamel of the teeth.
Once the enamel of the teeth, which is the protective layer, is gone, the teeth are exposed to different kinds of bacteria harm.
- It can cause tooth decay
Adding excessive sugar or sugary things to teas can wreak havoc to the oral health of the teeth. Oral bacteria feed and live on sugar, so taking sugar will enhance the growth of bacteria. Too many and unhealthy bacteria in the mouth can cause the teeth to start decaying, and this can lead to several oral diseases.
Examples of teas and their benefits to the oral health
There are several types of teas in the world. Here is a list of some of the teas that are beneficial to oral health.
- Black tea
Black tea inhibits the enzyme glucosyltransferase. This is the enzyme that converts sugars to the materials that help plaque stick to the teeth. Therefore black tea prevents the formation of plaque.
- Green tea
Green tea is rich in catechins. Catechins help to reduce periodontal diseases by inhibiting the Streptococcus mutans. Streptococcus mutans is a bacteria in the mouth that causes tooth decay and cavities.
- White tea
This tea is rich in polyphenol, and this helps to reduce the formation of plaque. It also helps to prevent the formation of cavities.
- Chamomile tea
Chamomile tea is anti-bacterial, and it helps to combat bacteria in the mouth.
- Lemongrass tea
Lemongrass tea has an anti-bacteria property. This helps to prevent the formation of cavities.
Conclusion
Drinking tea is not just for drinking sake or merely a trendy thing. Taking tea is beneficial for both oral and general health.
Include drinking tea in your daily habit today, and you’ll be glad you did.
