The U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine has developed a Bite Site to enhance dental wellness. MAJ Georgia DelaCruz, DMD, MPH Dental Staff Officer, Wellness Resource Program, Directorate of Health Promotion and Wellness U.S. Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (USACHPPM) hosts the H4H Clinician's Corner column every month to bring you clinical information, studies, and readiness commentary. She is the Fit 2 Bite dental subject matter expert! USACHPPM risk communications staff members support the review of Fit 2 Bite content.

If you have a question or comment related to dental wellness visit the dentist's chair, flash your smile, and fire away!

by MAJ Georgia dela Cruz
Dental Staff Officer, DHPW, USACHPPM.

The Chinese were the first to discover tea and have been writing about its benefits for thousands of years. An ever-increasing number of scientific studies that support the potential health benefits of tea-drinking include a not too well-known benefit - tea is good for your mouth.

Most teas contain fluoride, although the amount varies with the type of tea and the alkalinity of the soil in which it is grown. Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and protects against tooth decay. Some new studies also show that tannins in tea may fight tooth decay by blocking bacteria's ability to break down starch, preventing the production of destructive acids.

Several tea compounds have been found to inhibit the growth of bacteria and interfere with their ability to stick to teeth, thereby reducing their ability to cause decay. The growth of bacteria that cause bad breath may also be reduced by tea components.

Tea also appears to protect against gum disease in two ways. First, it reduces the buildup of dental plaque, which contains the bacteria that cause gum disease. Second, tea compounds called catechins appear to block the bacterial enzymes that cause breakdown of gum tissue.

Tea helps oral health in other ways. The polyphenols in tea are antioxidants that protect human cells from damage by free radicals. They also seem to trigger the self-destruction of tumor cells. This protective effect appears to apply to oral cancer as well as other types of cancer (Academy of General Dentistry website www.agd.org). Tea also contains several nutrients that are important for oral health including zinc, manganese, potassium, Folic acid, and vitamins B1, B2 and B6 (Tea Council website http://www.teahealth.co.uk).

Adding milk to hot tea provides calcium, which is essential for healthy bones and teeth. Adults who drink three or four cups of tea a day can enjoy the healthy benefits of tea. However, tea should not be given to infants or toddlers, and the amount consumed by children under 8 should be limited. Drinking tea daily may cause enamel fluorosis (white spots) to occur in the developing permanent teeth of such small children, and tea does contain some caffeine.

Along with benefits to oral health, tea seems to strengthen bones and reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and other forms of heart disease. The antioxidants found in tea appear to reduce the risk of certain cancers, including colorectal and skin cancers. Another compound in green tea called theanine appears to improve immune system function, possibly increasing resistance to infection and tumors.

For those who don't like the taste of plain tea, small amounts of orange, lemon or herbs such as peppermint or lemon verbena can be added. Adding small amounts of frozen fruit such as raspberries to iced tea can increase the level of antioxidants as well as add flavor. Adding sugar to tea, however, eliminates much of the protection against tooth decay that tea offers. In fact, tea sweetened with sugar can even increase cavities. Using an alternative sweetener reduces the risk of tooth decay.

Source: PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE, U.S. ARMY CENTER FOR HEALTH PROMOTION, AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE, ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MARYLAND 21010-5403

For more information, call 410-436-2088/800-222-9698/FAX 410-436-4784
For immediate release       PR 15-04             June 27, 2004