An innovative study has brought to light the power of matcha; a traditional green tea extract. It has been shown to produce positive results as a natural remedy in combating the oral bacterial complications of the severe gum disease, periodontitis.

Bacteria thrive in the dark warmth and wetness of the mouth, with a plentiful supply nutrients from the foods and drinks we consume.

When harmful bacteria build up around your teeth and gums, you’re at risk of developing gum disease – the result of persistent inflammation and infection of the gum and bone tissue surrounding your teeth. Left untreated, periodontal disease not only leads to tooth loss, but a raft of chronic inflammatory issues: from diabetes and respiratory infections, to cardiovascular disorders and dementia.

This groundbreaking research has found matcha emerges as a promising ally against the bacterial onslaught of Porphyromonas gingivalis, the culprit pathogen of periodontitis, and a formidable foe of resilient oral health.

With its emphasis on the potential of natural remedies for one of the most common bacterial infections worldwide, it’s a significant discovery in dental healthcare.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO – for those unfamiliar with who’s WHO), almost 20% of the global population above the age of 30 are affected by acute periodontal disease.

That’s more than a billion people.

In Australia, 3 in every 10 adults have a moderate or severe case of it; in the US, 47% suffer some form of this rampant oral disease.

Interestingly, gum disease appears to be a Goldilocks affliction. It’s 34% more prevalent in high-income countries than lower-middle; with low income nations fairing second worst to developed world economies.

So it seems that in the realm of minimising your chances of contracting gum disease, you don’t want to be rich, and you don’t want to be poor.

Epidemiology tells us that with periodontitis, bacteria and its toxic byproducts are easily transported from the surface of the gums and teeth to the bloodstream, and with that comes the potential of detrimental effects to vital organs. It can happen from an internal cut or wound of the mouth, having a dental clean, or even as a result of flossing.

Which is why the insistence of flossing as a necessary component in maintaining good oral health is such a hotly debated topic among dental practitioners.

Of all the medically accepted associations of poor oral health and other diseases, the most evidenced is that of periodontal disease and diabetes. And it’s proven a reciprocal relationship: the risk of diabetes is increased with periodontal disease; periodontal disease increases the risk for diabetes.

Research is still in the throes of understanding exactly how that works, but one published 2017 review suggests that the systemic inflammation of periodontal disease appears to interrupt the body’s insulin signalling ability.

Another later 2023 study found that those suffering diabetes who were under proper care and treatment for severe gum disease, had their overall health care costs reduced by between 12-14%.

It’s a strong implication that treating periodontal disease assists in controlling the symptoms and outcomes of diabetes – another global impact disease, directly responsible for almost two million deaths a year.
There are also ongoing studies into the further breadth of complications periodontitis causes. And it’s extensive. It includes, although is not limited to, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s and dementia, negative pregnancy risks, kidney and liver damage, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis, as well as colorectal and breast cancers.

Ultimately, these research results may at last prompt universal health insurance schemes into incorporating dental care into free, and subsidised categories of available services. As they’re programmes intended for the betterment of the health of a nation, these all-too-common ailments of failing organs likely begin with neglected oral health; which generally occurs because cost precludes treatment.

In that regard, while hope for the near future is a fine thing, the matcha news is current, useful, and presently available.

As reported in Microbiology Spectrum, an open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), researchers in Japan report that this finely ground green tea powder inhibits the growth of P. gingivalis, the major etiological agent in the development of chronic periodontitis. The study, conducted by researchers at the Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Tokyo’s National Institute of Infectious Disease, a series of in vitro experiments tested the efficacy of a matcha solution with 16 oral bacterial species – of which three strains of P. gingivalis were included.

Within 2 hours of exposure, almost all the cultured anaerobic, rod-shaped P. gingivalis cells had been eradicated by the matcha extract. After 4 hours, all the cells were dead.

Additionally, a clinical study was done on 45 people with chronic periodontitis, randomly split into three groups. One received a barley tea mouthwash; another group was given the mouthwash made from matcha extract, and the third group’s oral rinse included sodium azulene sulfonate hydrate, which is used to treat inflammation. All participants were instructed to gargle twice a day.

In the comparison saliva samples taken at the beginning, and at the end of the study, those who used the matcha mouthwash showed significantly lower levels of the bacteria.

It’s a result that offers clinical applicability for matcha in both the prevention, and the treatment of severe gum disease. The same study also showed that green tea reduced bleeding gums, and helped maintain healthy periodontal pocket depths.

Matcha is dense with antioxidant compounds and amino acids. It has less caffeine than black tea, and contains more catechins – flavonoid compounds that scavenge free radicals; naturally beneficial in inflammatory disease therapy.

With a long history of medicinal use in Japanese and Chinese cultures, it should be no surprise that the natural remedy of green tea has countless health benefits. Matcha powder is its most potent form; being the finely ground dried tea leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant from which all tea is derived.

That a pleasant tasting, easily sourced, cost effective, quantified treatment has been found for one of the world’s most common and damaging oral afflictions should have made front-page news. Why it didn’t is worth consideration and conversation with everyone you know.

Most suitably, over a cup of matcha tea.

Disclaimer: The material posted is for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Results vary with each patient. Any dental procedure carries risks and benefits. If you have any specific questions about any dental and/or medical matter, you should consult your dentist, physician or other professional healthcare providers.

 

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