Green tea stops cavities

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Green tea stops cavities

     Dental techniques have improved greatly in the past few years, but once teeth have been damaged by cavities they can never be restored to their original condition. It is of the highest priority, therefore, to prevent cavities from developing in the first place. By the end of the 19th century, it had been determined that caries are caused by cariogenic bacteria. The cariogenic bacteria first produce non-watersoluble glucan from sugar or other foods, and this glucan adheres to the tooth enamel as hard plaque. Next, they feed on sugar to generate acids such as lactic acid in the plaque. These acids then dissolve the tooth enamel. That in brief is the mechanism of cavity production. To prevent cavities it is necessary, then, to keep plaque off the teeth by brushing an important tool in good dental hygiene. But according to experiments by Dr. Hattori 15) green tea catechin can create glucan (Table 6) . Other experiments by Dr. Sakanaka 16) have verified that green tea catechin can destroy cariogenic bacteria (Table 7). That is, it is antibacterial. Clearly, then, green tea catechin not only suppresses the formation of plaque by cariogenic bacteria but also kills the bacteria themselves.

     It has been known for some time that small amounts of fluorine can strengthen teeth and help prevent cavities. For this reason, many cities add fluorine to their drinking water. Green tea, however, contains natural fluorine and is thought to help prevent cavities. That may explain those reports that show a reduction in cavities among grade school children who drank green tea after lunch.

      Halitosis or bad breath embarrasses many people. It is caused by a number of bacteria that flourish in the mouth. Green tea can also kill other oral bacteria besides those causing caries. It has, therefore, some ability to prevent bad breath by destroying the cause of bad breath.

      Why not enjoy gleaming white teeth and a fresh breath by drinking green tea?

Table 6
Inhibitory effects of tea catechins on glucosyltransferase activity

Enzyme sources
Test compounds b)
conc.,ug/ ml 6715DP MT8148 GTase-I a) MT8148 GTase-S a)

250 500 250 500 250 500

None
C
BC
GC
EGC
ECg
GCg
EGCg 100
96.7
85.4
31.7
84.7
0
0
0 100
73.1
71.2
9.7
61.0
0
0
0 100
83.7
81.4
97.2
94.0
0
0
0 100
61.2
72.1
85.8
82.0
0
0
0 100
95.0
50.9
82.7
90.4
0
0
0 100
71.0
43.8
61.8
58.7
0
0
0

a) GTase-I and GTase-S synthesized insoluble and soluble glucan, respec1ivoly

b) Test compounds:C,(*)-catechin;EC,(-)-epicatechin;GC,(*)-gallocatechin;

EGC, (-)-epigallocatechin;ECg,(-)-epicatechin gallate;GCg, (-)-gallocatechin

gallate;EGCg,(-)-epigallocatechin gallate

Table 7
Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of tea catechins against cariogenic bacteria

Test compounds 3) MIC(ug/ml)

S. mutans MT8148 S. mutans IFO13955 S. matans 0715DP

a 1) b 2) a b a b

C
EC
GC
EGC
BCg
EGCg >1000
>1000
   250
   500
>1000
1000 >1000
>1000
    250
    250
1000
   500 >1000
>1000
    250
    500
>1000
1000 >1000
>1000
    250
    250
>1000
   500 >1000
>1000
    250
    500
>1000
1000 >1000
>1000
    250
    250
>1000
    500

1) BHI agar medium

2) Sensitive meat extract agar medium

3) Test compounds :C,(+)-catechin;EC,(-)-epicatechin;GC,(+)-gallocatechin;EGC,

   (-)-epigallocatechin;ECg,(-)-epicatechingallate;EGC,(-)-epigallocatechingallate

　

15) M.Hattori et al., Chem. Pharm.. Bull.,38,717 (1990).

16) S. Sakanaka et al., Agric. Biol. Chem., 53,2307 (1989).

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Green tea stops cavities

Table 6
Inhibitory effects of tea catechins on glucosyltransferase activity

Table 7
Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of tea catechins against cariogenic bacteria

Green tea stops cavities

Table 6 Inhibitory effects of tea catechins on glucosyltransferase activity

Table 7 Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of tea catechins against cariogenic bacteria

Table 6
Inhibitory effects of tea catechins on glucosyltransferase activity

Table 7
Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of tea catechins against cariogenic bacteria