Drinking black tea may help prevent caries and periodontal disease, said researchers at the American Society for Microbiology’s annual meeting in May.
The beverage interferes with harmful bacteria in the mouth that form dental plaque, said Dr. Christine Wu, professor of periodontics at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, who led the study.
Dr. Wu and colleagues found that chemical components in black tea called polyphenols suppressed the growth of caries-causing bacteria in plaque and reduced acid production levels. The polyphenols also inhibited glucosyltransferase—an enzyme produced by the bacteria—and prevented the formation of the matrix material that dental plaque uses to adhere to tooth surfaces.
Researchers also found the size and stickiness of dental plaque were reduced because certain bacteria lost their ability to form aggregates with other bacteria when they were exposed to black tea.
The study consisted of several trials in which volunteers rinsed their mouths with black tea at different intervals. In one trial, those who rinsed with black tea for one minute 10 times a day had less plaque accumulation. In another, a single 30-second rinse had no effect, but multiple rinsings prevented bacteria from growing further, as well as lowered acid production.
"If sequenced properly between meals and normal oral hygiene, drinking black tea could reduce the number of cavities and prevent periodontal disease," said Dr. Wu.
