Green Tea May Promote Dental Health

Green tea is rich in polyphenols, compounds which have been suggested by previous studies to confer a wide range of health benefits, such as reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease and certain cancers, improving cardiovascular and oral health, and assisting in weight management. Yasushi Koyama, from Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine ( Japan), and colleagues assessed data compiled from 25,078 people, ages 40 to 64 years, who participated in the Ohsaki Cohort 2006 Study.  The team determined that those study participants who drank one to two cups of green tea per day reduced their risk of tooth loss by 18%.  Five or more cups of green tea daily was associated with a 23% reduction in tooth loss risk.  Noting that previous studies have reported that green tea catechins may inhibit the action of oral bacteria linked to development of periodontal disease, the team concludes that: “The present findings indicate an association of green tea consumption with decreased odds for tooth loss.”