Benefits of green tea on oral health - Research Paper Example

Green Tea Benefits on Oral Health Paper Outline …………………………………………………………………………..3 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………3 Significance of the Problem…………………………………………………………5 Review and critical analysis of Literature…………………………………..……….5 I. Cavity prevention II. Gum health, Less tooth loss, and Better breath III. Cancer control Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………..12 Future Research (Recommendation)..……………………………………………….13 Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………14 Abstract Green tea provides a myriad of benefits to human body, the most notable being oral health benefits. Numerous researches have been conducted to establish these health benefits. The findings have proved that green tea reduces the risk of esophageal and oral cancers, prevents cavities, control periodontal diseases, prevents loss of teeth and enhances mouth breath. Scholars and researchers have attributed these benefits to the presence of catechins and polyphenol compounds in green tea. Therefore, this study seeks to identify the oral health benefits of green tea through the available literature and point out the need for future research where necessary. Introduction Oral hygiene involves the procedure of maintaining the teeth and mouth clean to inhibit dental complications, most frequently, gingivitis, bad breath and dental cavities. There are oral pathologic illnesses that effective oral hygiene is needed for regeneration and healing of the dental tissues 1. These illnesses included periodontitis, gingivitis, as well as dental trauma, for example, oral cysts, subluxation, and after wisdom tooth removal. Oral health is a determining element for quality life, vital for healthiness, and a vital part of over-all health. In the European Union, the socio-economic obligation of oral illnesses is substantial: they affect a greater part of school-aged kids and grown-ups, and make up 5 percent of public health expenditure 2. Costs of established curative cure have escalated from 54 billion pounds in 2000 to 79 billion pounds in 2012, plus are projected to increase up to 93 bn pounds by 2020. Therapy expenditure surpasses that of other illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, dementia as well as stroke. This is alarming, since most of dental diseases burden is a veritable 6. A variety of health disorders is linked with oral ailment. Poorly regulated diabetes ailment is a well-recognized risk cause for fostering periodontal failure and latest research displays how protracted gum diseases may increase diabetic impediments 3. Gum ailments are also linked with coronary heart syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and adversative pregnancy outcomes. Oral illnesses are easily avoidable by healthy nutrition, consistent dental check-ups as well as routine personal dental hygiene habits, including re-current oral check-ups, the usage of mouthwashes and toothpastes with fluoride, inter-dental washing, and chewing no-sugar chewing gum while traveling. Frequent fluoride exposure, consistent brushing, a nutritious diet as well as routine dental care all add to enhanced oral health results and a decrease in oral healthiness inequities 7. In revelation of this, attempting to expose the full capacity of oral inhibition appears to be an extremely encouraging policy method to decrease the considerable costs and burden of oral illnesses across nations. Across the America, a range of fruitful community-based communal dental health programs subsists. These emphasize on the provision of precautionary treatments, intensifying awareness and enriching patient edification to inspire healthy habits as well as self-care. Nevertheless, there exist a steady lack of dexterity amid public establishments in ascertaining and sharing beneficial practices. Particularly, cost-effectiveness surveys of precautionary initiatives are deficient.  However, one preventive measure for dental problems that has been advocated for is the use of Green tea 8. Tea is one of the most taken drinks in the universe. Green tea, which is manufactured from the tea plant, is mostly consumed in China and Japan. This tells someone why the initial researches on green tea and its health benefits have been carried out in the two countries. Tea constitutes many compounds, such as polyphenols, which have been shown by research to have health benefits to individuals. Green tea is manufactured and processed differently from black tea, which gives its distinctive attributes and properties2. Significance of the Problem The many tooth pastes sold across nations in the natural food marketplace contain constituents that are contentious. These constituents include preservatives, artificial dyes, alcohol, sweeteners, artificial moisturizers and chemical abrasives. Some constituents are potential carcinogens while others are chemical products that do not appeal to the people who want to live and lead a healthy and natural life. The common ingredients of the widely traded toothpastes are linked to metabolic complications. It is in this regard that consumers making the link between teeth cavity, bad breath, loss of teeth, and cancer and the chemical components in such tooth pastes are seeking natural personal care items to enhance health and sustainable surroundings3. Review and Critical Analysis of Literature I. Cavity Prevention There have been more than 1600 scientific studies centering on the overall benefits of green tea. Green tea gets the most out of its antioxidant and antibacterial attributes that have proved to improve oral health significantly. Green tea is well known for its treatment of the taste buds. Research has it that green tea constitutes compounds that are deemed to manage irritation and fight bacterial contagion. Additionally, the antioxidants in the drink have many other health advantages to individuals4. As a result, green tea is an esteemed and taken drink in the universe. With these sets of attributes, green tea is noted to have therapeutic attributes. In addition, it aids in preventing cancer, mental attentiveness, lowering cholesterol, promoting weight loss and periodontal health. Green tea contains three main ingredients which act upon human health; essential oils, polyphenolic compounds and xanthic bases3. A recent study carried out by Pavel and Pave (2010) revealed that green tea reduces acidity in the mouth and reduces bacterial infestation. In this study people were tested before and after they rinsed their mouths for five minutes with green tea6. The subjects had low level acidity in their mouths and low bacterial infection, as well as diminished gum bleeding. This drove to the conclusion that taking green tea can help in reducing and preventing tooth decay. Since it has been established that green tea controls bacterial infection in the mouth and lowers saliva acidity and dental plague, it can play an imperative role in forestalling cavities. Additionally, green tea contains traces of natural fluoride, an element present in soil, some plants and water. This fluoride averts tooth decay and functions by mixing with saliva and upsetting the bacteria’s ability to generate acidic products that promote tooth decay1. In addition, the fluoride compound present in green tea functions to revamp teeth in the initial phases of cavity formation. Around 34 percent of fluoride is preserved in the mouth after cleansing with green tea7. The fluoride has an immense binding capability to interrelate with the oral tissues and their surface integuments. Cabrera et al (2006) reveals that Fluoride prevents the growth of Escherichia coli, Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus salivarius bacteria in the mouth2. Numerous studies indicate that fluoride hinders the growth, metabolism, acid activity and the glucosyltransferase enzyme activity of the S. mutans bacteria. Transition Sentence In this regard, studies indicate that green tea has numerous oral health benefits. Teeth, gum and breath can be employed as salient examples for testing green tea. II. Gum health, Less tooth loss, and Better breath Cho et al (2010) revealed that green tea contains polyphenols compound that has the ability to cease the development of dental bacteria that causes the foul breath and the production of fragrant elements. The polyphenols in the green tea breaks down such components that result to bad breath and mouth cancer. This is similar to a research carried out by Pham-Huy et al (2008), which identified polyphenols as antioxidants present in green tea that reduce bad breath, mouth cancer and tooth decay. This has put green tea as one among the super foods that have health advantages to people7. In this research, the researchers assessed the attributes of polyphenol, particularly the epigallocatechin 3 gallate (EGCG). As researchers have reported, the EGCG contains the most essential attributes of green tea. Kato et al (2010) revealed that the people who took green tea regularly had healthier gums than the people who did not. This study established that drinking more cups of green tea would reduce the risk of losing teeth by 23 percent4. Being an experimental research, the results do not show causality, but the association appears to be biologically reasonable. Green tea has anti-inflammatory properties which assist in managing periodontal disease. This research notes that the green tea catechins hamper the process of oral bacteria associated to the growth of periodontal disorder. In addition, a study carried out in German found similar positive results in individuals who were requested to chew candies with green tea extracts4. Zhan et al (2012) noted that men and women who took green tea on regular basis had a higher chance of holding onto their natural teeth for longer than a person who did not take green tea8. Consumption of green tea on daily basis can reduce loss of teeth. It beats logic to assert that a substance that will assist in preventing cavities and disorders will assist in maintain the teeth. Transition Sentence Green tea has proved to be helpful to individuals’ oral health through the numerous studies carried out. As noted, it helps in preventing periodontal diseases, loss of teeth and bad breath. In addition, there are other numerous studies that have linked the presence of catechins in green tea to the prevention of esophageal and oral cancers. III. Cancer Control Numerous studies have demonstrated in many animal models that it is a cancer preventive drink. As a benefit to oral health, green tea acts as a preventive drink towards mouth or oral cancer. In the studies carried out, green tea solutions are given to animals with numerous oral or mouth tumors. The conclusions from these studies have been deemed to apply to other animal models. Numerous epidemiologic researches have been carried out to assess the impacts of green tea up take on oral cancer1. Researches in Italy have proposed a shielding influence of green tea in opposition to “pharyngeal, laryngeal and oral cancer”1. In a similar research carried out in China, regular use of green tea is identified as linked to a low occurrence of “esophageal cancer”, particularly amongst non-alcoholics or non-smokers1. Cabrera et al (2006) recommended mechanisms about the repressive nature of green tea against carcinogenesis. The most generally proposed mechanism is the antioxidative activities. The antiploriferative impact of “tea catechins” is depicted in mouth “tumorigenesis” representations in mouse. Studies have shown the prevention of cell alteration and cell growth by theaflavins and catechins present in green tea1. These activities have been connected to the reticence of “mitogen-stimulated protein kinase” functioning5. Since there is a recurrent triggering of “AP-1” in many individual tumors, this function may be appropriate for the prevention of individual oral cancer. “Polyphenols” present in green tea have revealed their inhibition of “phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein by cyclin-dependent kinase 2/4”1, tumor necrosis factor release, nuclear factor activity and the joining of “epidermal growth factor and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate to their individual receptors”1, therefore, hampering cancer development. Needless to say, other studies have also shown the hampering of the development of tumor enhancing associated enzymes, such as protein kinase C, ornithine decarboxylase, cycloooxygenase and lipoxygenase. Green tea is depicted to inhibit certain gradations of carcinogenesis; with ECGC blocking cell membrane receptors, thus preventing tumor growth. Additionally, green tea restrains the catalytic process of numerous “cytochrome P-450 enzymes” as well as “cytochrome P450 1A and 2B1”, which may be engrossed in the process of tumor development. Needless to say, green tea inhibits nitrosamines1. Scholars functioning with tumor cell processions have linked the antitumor process of ECGC to development hampering, induction of apoptosis and regulation of cell cycle development. ECGC is associated with the blocking of DNA transcription of numerous genes in cancer cell lines. In addition, green tea connects to proteins affecting “enzymes and receptors”. This also affects the process of dictation receptors. This implies that ECGC prevents tumor at the height of gene dictation. Researchers have also established that green tea exhibits “angiogenesis in vitro” propagation researches and in “vivo angiogenesis” assessments1. Angiogenesis is a significant activity that accounts for an immense section of the oral tumor-deterrent impacts of green tea. Many years of research has shown that development and “metastasis of solid tumors” rely on the capability to start and maintain fresh “capillary” development, through angiogenesis process. This is a multifaceted procedure that engrosses “endothelial cell” propagation, separation into tubes similar to tubes and migration. These phases engross numerous development aspects, adhesion molecules among endothelial cells and proteases1. In this regard, angiogenesis is a significant activity that is responsible for sections of the methods of oral tumor prevention by green tea. Still on oral cancer prevention, green tea consists of theanine, which has a benefit of overcoming numerous forms of cancer such as esophageal and oral cancers3. In numerous scientific studies, it has been established that theanine enhances antitumor process of some cancer drugs such as doxorubicin, pirarubicin, adriamycin and idarubicin. In essence, theanine inhibits the tumor cell’s capacity to get rid of cancer drugs. Therefore, theanine ensures there is high level of drug substance in the tumor cells which slows their development and speeds up their death1. The oral health advantages of green tea “catechins” in tumor have largely been associated to these two attributes; effects on “metabolic enzymes” influencing development of tumor cells and metabolism. As indicated earlier, the anticancer impacts of green tea are indicated in animal studies and from individual epidemiologic surveillances. An empirical association between oral or esophagus cancer and green tea was established in 1980’s. Epidemiologic researches depict that cell tumor commencement in individuals who had taken “10 cups of green tea on daily basis was 8.7 years later in women and 11.7 years later in men, compared to individuals who consumed less than 3 cups of green tea on daily basis”2. Potential associations connecting high up take of green tea and stumpy prevalence of oral cell tumor in Asian nations have been hypothesized1. In a research carried out by Zhan et al (2012) revealed that green tea is beneficial to oral health owing to its natural antioxidant blends called catechins8. The study concentrated on nine hundred and forty Japanese men of ages 49 to 59 who bore some signs of periodontal (gum) disease, for instance, receding or bleeding gums 8. Essentially, all who took at least one mug of green tea every day showed enhancement of gum recession as well as the gum bleeding was reduced, too. The investigators recommended that the enhancement was the outcome of catechins within the green tea, which inhibit the inflammation, which is caused by the bacteria found in the mouth. Green tea is beneficial to one’s oral health. Less intake of sugar is an effective preventive measure of dental illnesses. This is because the bacteria found in the mouth feeds on that sugar, releasing acids, which eat away on the teeth enamel and aggravate gums. People should also evade prepackaged, bottled refrigerated teas since they encompass citric acid that can erode away the tooth enamel. Polyphenol is one of the ingredients of green tea that provides health gains. As indicated earlier, the main “polyphenol”, which belongs to the “family of catechins” and present in this tea is “(-)epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), with few traces of catechin (C), gallocatechin, epicatechin, gallocatechin gallate, epicatechin gallate, and epigallocatechin”1. Polyphenols present in green tea are amongst nutritional components that take part in an imperative function in tumor prevention and posses’ “antioxidant and antitumor effects”4. A certain research identified the phenolic substance of numerous teas and compared the quantities to thorough salvaging process through employing “altered oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assessment at pH 5.5”5. The sum of flavanol substance differed “from 21.2 to 103.3 mg/g for normal tea and from 508 to 850 trolox equivalents/g for decaffeinated teas”. A momentous comparison of flavanol substance to “ORAC value (r=0.78, p=0.0001) for green tea extract” was present3. This difference in flavanol substance provides useful information on cancer prevention by the green tea. Therefore, polyphenols counteract the peril of oral cancer caused by free radicals and kills mouth cancer cells. Conclusion The probable oral wellbeing benefits of green tea up take have been indicated by numerous epidemiologic researches and evidenced by laboratory experiments. Nonetheless, these experiments experienced challenges due to confounding aspects such as lifestyle, such as smoking, coffee consumption and fat consumption. From these studies, it is evident that green tea has numerous oral health benefits. Such benefits include prevention of periodontal diseases, oral cancer control, reduction of tooth loss, elimination of foul odor in the mouth and cavity prevention. However, caution should be taken with the uptake of high level of green tea in the prevention or reduction of development of certain diseases. Future Research In the various studies carried out on the oral benefits of green tea, none of them seem to indicate the number of tea cups that an individual should consume and the quantity of catechins in a cup of green tea. Alternatively, none of them have indicated the quantity of catechins present in one gram of green tea extracts. Therefore, future research should focus on determining the quantity of catechins in a cup of green tea or in green tea extracts. Additionally, future research should focus on the required amount of green tea that a person should consume to reduce the development of diseases, teeth cavity, eliminate bad breath and reduce oral cancer. Works Cited 1. Cabrera, C., Artacho, R., & Giménez, R. Beneficial Effects of Green Tea—A Review. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. April 2006;25(2):79-99. 2. Cho, Y., Oh, J., &Oh, K. Antimicrobial Activity and Biofilm Formation Inhibition of Green Tea Polyphenols on Human Teeth. Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering. 2010;15(2):359-364. 3. Erridge, M., Cox, A., Dixon, P. A Histological Study of Peripheral Dental Caries of Equine Cheek Teeth. J Vet Dent. 2012;29(3):150-156. 4. Kato, M. et al.Protective Effect of Green Tea on Dentin Erosion and Abrasion. 2009;17 (6): 560-4. 5. Magalhães, A, et al .Chlorhexidine and Green Tea Extract Reduce Dentin Erosion and Abrasion In Situ. . 2009; 37 (12): 994-8. 6. Pavel, L.&Pave, S. Usefulness of Micronutrients in The Treatment Of Periodontitis. 2010;117(2):103-6. 7. Pham-Huy, L., Pham-Huy, C., He, H. Green Tea And Health: An Overview. Journal Of Food, Agriculture & Environment. 2008;6(1):6-13 8. Zhan, L., et al. Effects Of Xylitol Wipes On Cariogenic Bacteria And Caries In Young Children. J Dent Res. 2012;91 Read More