3 Ways Green Tea Is Good for Your Teeth

Green tea has a well-earned reputation as a healthy drink, rich in antioxidants and a pleasant alternative to coffee. What’s less widely known is that it may also do your oral health a few quiet favours. Here are three ways your daily cup of green tea can help look after your teeth.

A small caveat first: these are gentle benefits to enjoy alongside good habits, not a replacement for brushing and flossing. With that in mind, here’s what green tea has going for it.

It may help reduce plaque and tartar

Green tea contains compounds called catechins, which have been found to help limit the build-up of the bacteria behind plaque and tartar. By keeping that bacterial growth in check, green tea may support cleaner, healthier teeth and contribute to guarding against cavities and gum problems.

It supports saliva production

Saliva is a key part of keeping the mouth clean, helping rinse away food particles and bacteria. The antioxidants in green tea can help stimulate saliva flow, and more saliva generally means a fresher, better-protected mouth between meals.

It can help freshen breath

The polyphenols in green tea are useful against some of the bacteria that cause bad breath. Drinking it regularly may help keep your breath feeling fresher, which is a welcome bonus alongside the other benefits.

Enjoy it as part of the bigger picture

So next time you’re reaching for a hot drink, green tea is a worthwhile choice, healthy generally and kind to your teeth. Just keep up your regular brushing and flossing for the best results, and be mindful that, like many drinks, it can contribute to staining over time if you drink a lot of it.

Of course, the cornerstone of healthy teeth is still regular preventive check-ups. If it’s been a while since your last visit, get in touch with TMJ Therapy Centre to book.