Periodontal Disease May Be Reduced By Antioxidants In Green Tea

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth, and has been associated with the progression of other diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The ability of green tea in reducing symptoms of periodontal disease may be due to the presence of the antioxidant catechin. Previous research has demonstrated antioxidants' ability to reduce inflammation in the body, and the indicators of periodontal disease measured in the study, periodontal pocket depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL) and bleeding on probing (BOP), suggest the existence of an inflammatory response to periodontal bacteria in the mouth. By interfering with the body's inflammatory response to periodontal bacteria, green tea may in fact help to promote periodontal health, and guard against further disease.