Tea is reported to contain nearly 4000 bioactive compounds of which one third is contributed by polyphenols.
Tea helps prevent tooth decay in several ways. It contains a solid dose of fluoride and works better than the antibiotic tetracycline. According to researchers at the Tokyo Dental College, it fights the kinds of bacteria in the mouth that cause gum disease and the eventual loss of the teeth. It also kills the greatest cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth, Streptococcus mutans.
Green tea leaves are known to be rich in fluoride and other components such as polyphenols (catechins) that play a supportive role in resisting dental carried. The basic patho-physiology of dental carries involves the demineralization of the inorganic component and the subsequent breakdown of the organic moieties of enamel and dentin. This is due bacterial infections and/or deficiency of nutrients.
Untreated dental caries can lead to incapacitating pain, potential tooth loss and loss of dental function.
The beneficial role of fluoride is well-known as it inhibits the bacterial growth and helps re-mineralization of dental tissues.
Cariogenic bacteria release glucans with the help of glucosyltransferase (GTase) which are branched and facilitate adherence of microbes to tooth surface. Gallocatechin (GC) and epigallocatechin (EGC) are the catechins that restrict the growth of 10 types of carries causing bacteria.
Tea helps to prevent tooth decay
