Black Tea May Help Fight Oral Disease.........

Black Tea May Help Fight Oral Disease. Drinking black tea may help prevent caries and periodontal disease, said researchers at the American Society for Microbiology.

Chemical components in black tea called polyphenols suppressed the growth of caries-causing bacteria in plaque and reduced acid production levels. The polyphenols also inhibited glucosyltransferase (an enzyme produced by bacteria) and prevented the formation of the matrix material that dental plaque uses to adhere to tooth surfaces. Researchers also found that the size and stickiness of dental plaque were reduced because certain bacteria lost their ability to form aggregates with other bacteria when they were exposed to black tea.