Tea for Teeth

Bacteria in the mouth can cause all sorts of nasty problems cavities, infections, strep throat, and bad breath. Drinking green tea is a simple and effective way to fight both bacterial and viral infections. An added bonus is that green tea helps generally stimulate the immune system. Now research at Pace University in Washington, DC, shows that toothpaste and mouthwash enriched with green tea extracts and the polyphenols found in green tea are effective in fighting bacteria. The study looked at various teas&green, black, and white, caffeinated and decaffeinated, organic and inorganic, loose, and in bags.

For Eden brand organic green tea, the bagged tea proved more effective at fighting germs. For Stash brand green tea, loose leaves were more effective. Overall, green tea had more antiviral and antibacterial properties than both black and white teas. Look for green tea-enhanced toothpastes and mouthwashes at your local health food store.