Green Tea and Oral Health-A Review

Green tea is a popular health drink which is routinely consumed by many people. It is derived from the dried leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis and is a leading beverage in the Far East for thousands of years. Green tea is usually available in the form of beverage, mouthwash containing extract of green tea, and chewing gum. Green tea is an important source of polyphenol antioxidants. Polyphenols including epigallocatechin 3 gallate (EGCG) constitute the most interesting components in green tea leaves. Green tea has the potential to protect against various malignant, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases. It has been suggested that green tea promotes periodontal health by reducing inflammation, preventing bone resorption, and limiting the growth of certain bacteria associated with periodontal diseases. Green tea is renowned for its antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. This traditional beverage is also used in the management of chronic systemic diseases including carcinoma. Recent studies have emphasized that in addition to the microbial activity, the host immuno-inflammatory reactions destroy the oral tissues to a greater extent. In such cases, green tea is considered to be a natural preventive and curative agent. There is a growing search of evidence for understanding the beneficial role of green tea and its polyphenols in oral health.