Matcha tea: benefits for oral health

Matcha green tea was the secret weapon of samurai warriors who drank it before going into battle. Japanese monks drink it during Zen Buddhist ceremonies, before entering intensive periods of calm and meditation.

The health benefits of matcha are numerous for the body and mind. And above all, the benefits of matcha extend to your dental health. Nutrident explains in detail why matcha tea can become the best ally of your teeth.

Matcha Teas Recommended By Nutrident.com

Here is our comparison of the best matcha tea on the market:

Kumiko Matcha: top-of-the-line tea at the best price-quality ratio

Kumiko matcha tea is a high quality tea, totally organic, harvested on the Japanese island of Kyushu. It is harvested by hand and is the result of a blending by the cellar master, as for the great wines.

The matcha tea master selects the best green tea leaves harvested by the farmers and creates a blend to obtain the best quality. Only the last three young leaves of each shoot are harvested. As with all premium matcha teas, there is only one harvest per year. This avoids the use of fertilizers and pesticides to speed up production.

Kumiko's matcha has a strong floral aroma and reaches the heights of umami.

Vahdam: an excellent entry-level product

Vahdam's matcha tea comes from a traditional Japanese plantation, combined with other renowned plantations in the towns of Honyama and Kawane, in the Shizuoka region. The landscape of breathtaking mountains, clear streams, coastal beaches and hot springs enjoys a very fertile soil and perfect climate for matcha tea production.

Vahdam's matcha is excellent, even if it doesn't reach the heights of Kumiko, which benefits from a cellar master.

Essential Questions About Matcha Tea

What is matcha tea

Matcha means “tea powder” because it is ground with a granite stone. It is a slightly bitter green tea, praised for its detoxifying action. It prevents inflammatory and degenerative diseases, detoxifies the liver and actively fights skin aging and the appearance of wrinkles.

Matcha tea leaves must be grown in the dark. The process of growing in the shade increases the nutrients in matcha, especially chlorophyll, the green plant pigment that allows plants to absorb energy from sunlight. Chlorophyll is rich in antioxidants, and gives matcha its electrifying green color.

Growth in the shade also increases the amount of L-theanine. The latter is a rare amino acid found only in tea and matcha is the richest source of it. The high amino acid content is also what gives matcha its characteristic umami taste. For the Japanese, umami is the ultimate taste that describes the incredible flavor of certain exceptional foods. Matcha is one of the umami foods and is elevated to the highest rank.

Matcha reduces anxiety and depression

L-theanine increases serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain. These are two feel-good neurotransmitters that regulate mood and protect you from depression and anxiety, while increasing feelings of pleasure and motivation in the brain. L-theanine also increases concentration during long tasks.

Matcha to fight tooth decay

EGCG – epigallocatechin gallate – is a type of antioxidant found in green tea, particularly matcha green tea. It reduces the growth of bacteria in the mouth that lead to cavities. This antioxidant can fight up to ten different bacterial strains that are known to cause cavities.

Matcha reduces gum disease

From gingivitis to periodontitis, gum disease is an inflammatory condition that can range from uncomfortable to excruciating. Green teas, and especially matcha, are able to reverse these symptoms and offer real relief.

Increased consumption of matcha tea is associated with a decrease in gum disease. Administration of matcha tea catechins directly into the gum pockets of patients with periodontal disease for eight weeks significantly improves the condition.

Matcha reduces bad breath

Bad breath can be caused by an imbalance in your oral microbiome, between the good and bad bacteria in your mouth. The antioxidants in matcha green tea modify the sulfur compounds in your mouth that cause bad breath.

Matcha reduces the risk of oral cancer

There are many known risks for oral cancer, ranging from smoking to not eating enough vegetables. It turns out that green teas like matcha help reduce your risk of oral cancer.

The antioxidants in matcha tea can have a major impact on the development of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the mouth, otherwise known as free radicals. ROS particles are responsible for oxidative stress. When free radicals cannot grow, they are less likely to strike healthy cells in your mouth that might otherwise mutate into cancer cells.

Matcha fights against oral thrush

Oral thrush is treated with antifungal medications that fight the Candida fungus involved in this condition. In order to avoid the side effects of these drugs, you can consume matcha tea whose compounds strengthen your natural antifungal defenses against this yeast.

Mens sana in corpore sano, a healthy mind in a healthy body

Matcha tea is good for the morale and good for the health. It has a detoxifying effect on the body in general and on the heart in particular. The anti-inflammatory action of matcha tea catechins have protective effects on the cardiovascular system and vascular function.

Since people with periodontitis are at the highest risk for heart disease, adding matcha tea to their diet is a great way to reduce your risk for both problems.

Conclusion

Finally, be aware that matcha tea has benefits for the whole body, but can also cause stains on the teeth. If tea consumption is excessive, these stains can quickly dull your beautiful smile. One solution to this is to use teeth whitening kits, and we recommend that you read on to see our review of the Smile Workshop kit.