Evaluation of Green Tea Effect on Oral Bacteria, Streptococcus Mutans

Abstract

Tea is a gift of China to the world. It is a popular beverage consumed by almost every person globally, after water. Green tea has not gone under oxidation process and found beneficial for human consumption because of its medicinal properties and presence of some nutrients and minerals required by human beings for a healthy life. Molecular component of green tea (Polyphenols, catechins, flavonoids and minerals) makes it suitable in ailments and some microbial infections. Oral cavity has the second largest and diverse microbiota after gut, as numerous microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses exist in the mouth. Streptococcus mutans is facultative, anaerobic oral bacteria mainly responsible for tooth decay was selected for the present study because dental plaque and caries are common infections found in population. For experimental purpose 30 healthy individuals were randomly selected from the college campus (MIET, Meerut). Saliva of each individual was taken twice i.e. before and after green tea consumption. For identification and confirmation of S. mutans, biochemical tests have been done. The effect of green tea was observed by the growth and count of S. mutans on common (nutrient agar media) and special media (Mitis Salivary agar media). Plates were showing less count after green tea consumption as compared to the plates before consumption of green tea. On the basis of the results, it can be concluded that Green tea is the natural preventive and curative agents and is good to consume once in a day to reduce the count of Streptococcus mutans in mouth to maintain oral health.