Three cups of drink daily 'combats tartar and strengthen gums'

Dental experts have recommended drinking three cups of green tea daily to help remove tartar from your teeth. While it's not a replacement for brushing or professional dental cleaning, regular consumption can strengthen gums and reduce tartar build-up.

Green tea, packed with antioxidants and bioactive compounds, has been hailed as a boon for oral health due to its ability to combat tartar and fortify gums. Tartar forms when bacterial plaque - a film consisting of bacteria, saliva and food particles - hardens upon contact with mouth minerals, creating a white or yellowish layer at the tooth base.

This deposit, often found in areas hard to reach with a toothbrush, is particularly noticeable on lower teeth and upper molars. Unlike plaque, tartar cannot be removed with just a toothbrush and requires a dentist's intervention.

However, consuming green tea can supplement oral hygiene and prevent tartar formation, according to El Universal. But why exactly should you drink three cups a day?

Experts recommend consuming between two and three cups of green tea daily to fully benefit from its antibacterial and antioxidant properties. This brew, packed with antioxidants like vitamins C and E, phenolics, catechins, and flavonoids, not only aids in preventing plaque build-up but also targets oral bacteria, making their removal easier.

These characteristics enable green tea to act as a support in reducing the risk of tartar formation by preventing bacterial plaque from hardening so easily. How does green tea bolster gums?

Regular intake of green tea not only assists in reducing tartar but also fortifies gums, which is crucial for dental health, according to the National Library of Medicine.

The catechins and flavonoids in green tea have anti-inflammatory effects that are beneficial to gum tissue, helping to minimise the risk of bleeding and promoting gum healing post-brushing. These compounds also provide antiviral protection, contributing to a mouth free from infection and promoting healthier gums.

Why should one consider green tea as an alternative for oral hygiene? While professional dental care is crucial for removing built-up tartar, green tea has been suggested as a beneficial addition to improve oral health. Thanks to its caffeine and antioxidant content, this brew creates an environment in the mouth that's less conducive to bacterial growth.

Therefore, daily and moderate consumption of this beverage can reduce bacteria build-up and maintain strong gums, reducing the risk of bleeding and inflammation. However, green tea isn't a replacement for regular dentist visits or basic hygiene practices like brushing and flossing.

While its antibacterial and antioxidant properties help manage plaque and prevent it from hardening into tartar, professional cleaning is necessary to remove already formed tartar. Moreover, maintaining consistent daily oral hygiene and supplementing with green tea can make a significant difference to long-term oral health.

In addition to these benefits, World of Dentistry has highlighted other advantages of green tea for oral health. It stated that it could help control and prevent tooth decay and also reduce the production of methyl mercaptan, one of the main causes of halitosis, commonly known as bad breath.

As it's a potent antioxidant, it aids in restoring the oxidant-antioxidant balance in former smokers. It has also been associated with lowering the risk of mouth cancer, as its polyphenols function as strong antioxidants, reducing the production of free radicals that cause DNA damage.