TEA AIDS ORAL HEALTH
-Sarah Graham
A spot of tea may offer more than just a pleasant way
to pass the afternoon. Research findings presented this week at the
103rd General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Washington,
D.C. suggests that it can help fight bad breath and may boost the powers
of toothpaste.
Christine Wu and Min Zhu of the University of Illinois at Chicago College
of Dentistry isolated chemical components of tea leaves known as polyphenols
and tested them against three species of bacteria known to cause bad
breath. The researchers found that the compounds, specifically catechins
and theaflavins, inhibited growth of the oral bacteria over a 48-hour
incubation period. What is more, lower concentrations of the chemicals
interfered with the enzyme that catalyzes the production of hydrogen
sulfide, which has the notorious smell of rotten eggs, and reduced its
production by 30 percent. The compounds studied by the scientists are
present in both green tea and black tea, although they are more abundant
in the latter.
In a second study, researchers reported that green tea may provide additional
benefits. Milton Schiffenbauer of Pace University and his colleagues
tested tea's ability to fight bacteria that cause infections such as
strep throat and dental caries. They found that green tea extracts and
polyphenols--particularly those from caffeinated beverages--inhibited
bacterial growth. Adding these agents to toothpaste and mouthwash, he
notes, may make them more effective at combating microbial agents.
-May 21, 2003
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