Share

How green tea can help soothe your painful, sensitive teeth

accreditation
A cup of tea has more benefits than you would think.
A cup of tea has more benefits than you would think.

Sensitive teeth can make that ice-cream a little less sweet. But there may be some help in sight for that cold-induced tooth pain: A new material developed with a green tea extract may fight tooth sensitivity, a study in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces suggests.

Read more: This R10 habit could save you hundreds in dental bills

Tooth sensitivity occurs when a protective coating on the crowns of your teeth called enamel or the layer covering your tooth root called cementum wear away, revealing a bony tissue called dentin. Without the protective coating, heat or cold can reach the nerves inside the tooth, causing hypersensitivity or a sharp pain when you eat something hot or cold.

Preliminary research

Dentists usually use a mineral called nanohydroxyapatite to plug up tubes in the dentin to stop the liquids and food from reaching the nerves. Problem is, the material doesn’t last long, and doesn’t really stand up well to regular brushing or exposure to acid produced by bacteria in your mouth, the researchers said in a statement.

Read more: Why you have bad breath & and how to get rid of it

That’s when the researchers decided to combine a green tea extract called EGCG – which previous studies have shown to fight the bacteria that causes the build-up of cavity-promoting plaque – with nanohydroxyapatite in silica particles, which can stand up to wear and tear.

When they tested the combination on extracted wisdom teeth, they found it plugged up dentin, released ECGC for at least 96 hours, and prevented plaque formation and tooth erosion.

Read more: Is exercise harming your teeth?

This shows that the material may be good candidate to fight both tooth sensitivity and cavities, the researchers say. Still, the research is still very preliminary, and the material isn’t available for use yet.

Originally published on www.menshealth.com 

Image credit: iStock 

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE