3 surprising drinks that will keep your teeth healthy

Can oral health be improved simply by enjoying a refreshing drink? So it seems.

In fact, you can choose from three delicious drinks, the ones you probably thought were bad for your teeth. And if you thought milk was going to be number one on this list, you’d be wrong!

1. tea

No big surprise here, right? Both green tea and black tea have been shown to be good for teeth and gums. First, the catechins in green tea are anticariogenic (ie they reduce the incidence of dental caries). Green tea destroys Streptococcus mutans and other bacteria that cause tooth decay.

Tea is also a source of fluoride, which is one of the most studied substances to reduce cavities. But the benefits of tea do not depend on fluoride. One study showed that even when fluoride is removed, green tea extract increases the strength of tooth enamel.

What about black tea? Black tea polyphenols (mainly theaflavins) prevent the growth of bacteria that cause bad breath. The higher the concentration of polyphenols, the greater the growth reduction. Furthermore, when hamsters were fed a high-sugar diet, the incidence of caries increased significantly. Feeding them black tea along with sugar markedly reduced cavities.

2.Coffee

Most people may associate coffee with bad teeth, but actually, coffee is good for your oral health. Just like green tea, roasted coffee beans have antibacterial activity. Coffee can also prevent bacteria from sticking to the surface of your teeth, making them less harmful.

It’s not entirely clear how coffee does what it does, but according to the scientists who conducted the study, the most active compounds in coffee in terms of dental health are trigonelline, caffeine, and chlorogenic acid. They likely work together synergistically to reduce caries more than either compound alone would.

3. cocoa

Surely cocoa can’t be good for your teeth? Well yes you can. Studies with hamsters and rats show that when cocoa powder or chocolate (yes, chocolate) is added to their diet, they have fewer cavities. Of course, the high levels of sugar in hot chocolate or milk chocolate are much less effective than dark chocolate or cocoa powder with hot water or milk.

A study in children found that a mouthwash made from cocoa bean shells reduced the amount of plaque. The reason is that cocoa inhibits a specific enzyme that is involved in plaque formation.

conclusion

Green tea, black tea, coffee and cocoa have benefits for oral health. Tea has the most studies behind it and is the best option of the three, but coffee and cocoa also seem to be beneficial. A combination of all three may be the optimal choice.

Be aware, however, that all three have the potential to stain teeth when consumed in large amounts. You can limit the amount of discoloration by rinsing your mouth with water afterward, chewing gum, and choosing white tea or green tea over black tea, which is the most effective dye of the three.