With origins dating back over 4,000 years, green tea has always been a popular drink in Asian culture, and has been gaining popularity in the West.
As the ancient Chinese medicine and Japanese argued that the consumption of this tea could cure diseases and heal wounds, recent studies have begun to establish potential health benefits of green tea consumption, especially in weight loss, heart health and cancer prevention.
Now, a study published in the Journal of Periodontology, has discovered another benefit of green tea consumption. Specifically, researchers have found that the habit of drinking this tea can help promote healthy teeth and gums.
The study analyzed the periodontal health of 940 men of 49-59 years and found those who regularly took this product had better dental health than those who drank only sporadically.
The ability of green tea to help reduce the symptoms of periodontal disease may be due to the presence of the antioxidant catechin.
Previous research had already demonstrated the ability of antioxidants to reduce inflammation, and disease indicators measured in this study suggest the existence of an inflammatory response to periodontal bacteria in the mouth. Interfering with this response, green tea may actually help promote periodontal health, and even prevent other ailments.
Periodontal disease is a chronic ailment just inflammation that affects the gums and bone that support the teeth, and has been associated with the progression of other diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. “The periodontist believe that maintaining healthy gums is absolutely critical to maintaining a healthy body,” said David Cichran, president of the American Academy of Periodontology.