Is Matcha Good for Oral Health?
Matcha is good for your oral health because it contains thousands of bioactive ingredients, which are integral in preventing and treating oral health problems.
Green tea has long been promoted as a component of a healthy diet. Matcha green tea has nearly three times as many antioxidants, which help protect your cells against harmful molecules and bacterial growth. From preventing tooth decay to fighting inflammation, here’s how matcha can help you achieve a healthier smile.
What is matcha?
Matcha is a type of green tea made by grinding tea leaves into a fine powder. Unlike regular tea, which involves infusing leaves in water, matcha requires whisking the powder with hot water. With matcha, you’re drinking the whole leaves so that you can reap the benefits of their nutrients, rich antioxidant content, and other health-promoting benefits.
During the growing process, matcha green tea bushes are kept under shade to boost the chlorophyll content in the leaves. Matcha leaves are typically ground in the dark to preserve the nutrients.
How does matcha benefit oral health?
Compared to other types of tea, matcha has an exceptionally high antioxidant content. Specifically, these antioxidants can help prevent different bacterial strains associated with tooth decay, gingivitis, and periodontal disease.
It also contains nearly 4,000 bioactive ingredients, of which one-third consists of polyphenols, which are responsible for wide-ranging oral health benefits. In comparison, black tea contains significantly lower concentrations, while oolong tea contains a mix of simple polyphenols.
A 2011 review found that matcha green tea offers several oral health benefits-- from combatting tooth decay to lowering your risk of oral cancer. In addition, the study reports that, “Drinking green tea as frequently as possible may help to maintain a healthy mouth.
How can you make sure you’re buying high-quality matcha?
Research has shown that matcha is full of surprising ways to improve your mind and body—and even your oral health. But to take advantage of its benefits, you’ll need to invest in high-quality matcha.
For example, most ceremonial-grade matcha is not organic and is not screened for toxins—and that’s the last thing you want when you’re trying to improve your health. For the best results, shop for ceremonial-grade matcha that is both organic and screened for toxins.
High-quality matcha features balanced flavors and a slight taste of fresh-cut grass. With that said, it should not taste overly grassy, and the green tea powder should not come with any added sweeteners.
The color of matcha should be bright green, which demonstrates its high chlorophyll content. Conversely, matcha powder with a yellow tint often indicates lower quality and reduced nutrient content.
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