Coffee is the most preferred drink for Americans to jumpstart their day.  However, we all know that it stains the teeth and is the cause of the unrelenting coffee breath.  Have you ever thought of switching to green tea?  Studies show that it improves oral health and at the same time, gives you the caffeine boost that you need to start your day.

There are so many people who drink tea and in fact, it is the second choice, next to water.  The Chinese and the Indians are the top drinkers of green for a very long time now and that is because they firmly believe in its medicinal properties such as healing wounds, improving cardiovascular health, regulating body temperature, improving digestion and boosting mental activity.

Americans are more familiar with black tea, which is described to have less antioxidants and less caffeine than green tea.  Research shows that the unfermented gree tea leaves have the highest concentration of polyphenol and catechin which are integral in treating high cholesterol, cancer, diabetes, liver disease and other similar conditions.

Moreover, scientific studies have shown that green has a lot of ability in contributing to better oral health.  By drinking one to six cups of green tea every day, you can have better oral health by:

Reducing periodontal inflammation - A 2009 research by The American Academy of Periodontology showed that patients who drank at least one cup of green tea per day had better periodontal health compared to those who did not consume green tea.

Killing oral cancer cells - Polyphenol, a powerful antioxidant found in green tea, acts as a neutralizer to reduce the cancer-causing free radicals and it is the same ingredient that can actually kill existing oral cancer cells.

Preventing the formation of dental plaque - Consuming green tea or rinsing with a green tea extract aids in the reduction of plaque and the occurrence of dental caries.

Killing odor causing bacteria - Research by the University of Illinois found that ingredients in green tea can inhibit the growth of oral bacteria and interfere with the production of hydrogen sulfide.