THE universal enemy of oral health has essentially been elucidated by the equation: germs plus sugar equals acid production. These acids can dissolve enamel as well as tooth-root structure and result in cavities (technically, a carious lesion). Although tooth decay is a fact of life, with no record showing that any adult human has never suffered from tooth decay, we know that there is evidence that some people are more resistant than others.
Since effective brushing and flossing are critical to controlling dental decay in susceptible individuals, I want to detour briefly to discuss the causes and prevention of tooth decay. Of course, everyone who reads this column should realise by now that the secret to oral health is the effective control of dental plaque. Now, three elements need to be in place before tooth decay can happen: the micro-organism responsible for decay (Streptococcus mutans) must be present, a sugar or carbohydrate for S. mutans to metabolise must be available, and the tooth or teeth must be susceptible to, or capable of, decay. Additionally, there are three cavity-preventing measures that those of us susceptible to tooth decay must take to combat this decay: we must control plaque, reduce carbohydrates (sugars) in our diet, and make our teeth more resistant to decay.
Eliminating, or at least drastically reducing, tooth decay is certainly relatively easy, although it takes a little effort. Proper brushing and flossing are of paramount importance in eliminating tooth decay in the caries-susceptible individual because, without excellent control of plaque (the sticky stuff containing cavity-causing microorganisms, including S. mutans), cavities can develop in the grooves (pits and fissures) of teeth, in between the teeth, on the sides of the teeth, at the gum margins (edges) of fillings, crowns, or bridges. This distresses dentists and patients alike, since much of this restorative work was done to repair damage from prior decay, and new decay around existing dental work is rarely restored properly with a patchwork approach. Once the dentist has done their best to restore a tooth, the patient needs to maintain it well.
An obvious way to reduce dental decay is to cut back on, or even eliminate, sugary drinks from the diet. Great plaque control is an excellent way to keep cavity-causing organisms at lower levels in the mouth, but even great plaque control is no match for the acids produced when six to twelve sugar-containing soft drinks are consumed every day; this much sugar coating the teeth supports the astronomically fast growth of the cavity-causing organism and its acids. Coffee or tea sweetened with sugar will create never-ending cavities in anyone prone to decay. The use of non-sugar sweeteners is recommended for those at risk of tooth decay.
Rinsing and/or consuming three or four cups of green tea daily for dental reasons is a great idea because it inhibits the growth of plaque caused by S. mutans, destroys the biofilm that coats teeth and the rest of the mouth (thus helping to clean the mouth), and, because of the fluoride content in green tea, actually makes the teeth more resistant to acids produced by S. mutans. Fluoride, in its various dental formulations, is the third method utilised to reduce susceptibility to tooth decay (caries) in cavity-prone individuals. I am in my fifties and have only lost four teeth, which I lost as a teenager. I ascribe considerable protective value to green tea and recommend it to my patients.
Please note that when consuming green tea for its cavity-reducing benefits, it is best to swish each mouthful vigorously to cleanse the mouth before swallowing. In other words, don’t drink the tea as you normally would, since the cleansing action and the S. mutans inhibition are improved by having tea in contact with the mouth and teeth for longer periods of time.
Finally, my advice on using green tea is to find one you like and keep it readily available at work and at home so you can drink it regularly. Green tea has benefits that go well beyond cavities, and you can take advantage of them all by drinking several cups as part of your daily routine.
A final note on dental decay: make certain you have regular dental check-ups. Your dentist is there to help you stay healthy, and regular dental visits offer the best chance of keeping problems to a minimum.