Could rinsing with matcha extract help prevent gum disease?

Having previously found that curry leaf and fennel can have antibacterial effects, researchers have recently investigated the effect of matcha extract on 16 different types of bacteria, commonly found in the mouth.

They created their own matcha extract, comparing it to normal green tea and extracting it with different compounds to discover which was the most effective extract against P. gingivalis.

They then tested the efficacy of a matcha solution against 16 oral bacterial species, including three strains of P. gingivalis, in vitro.

The researchers found that P. gingivalis, Prevotella nigrescens, and Fusobacterium nucleatum were all inhibited by the matcha extracts.

In order to determine the efficacy of matcha in vivo, researchers from the Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, and the National Institute of Infectious Disease in Tokyo carried out a clinical trial of 45 people.

All of these participants had signs of pockets caused by periodontitis, were adults over the age of 20, were not smokers and had no allergies

All received a powder with instructions on how to dissolve to form a mouthwash and how to use it by a periodontist. The group were split into three: one group received matcha, one barley tea, and the other sodium azulene sulfonate, which is used as an anti-inflammatory treatment.

The participants used the mouthwash for a month and were followed up at the end of the month.

The researchers found that participants who used the matcha extract mouthwash had significantly lower levels of P. gingivalis.

However, while they found a reduction in the size of the pockets in participants’ gums, this reduction was not proven to be significant.

Commenting for Medical News Today, Jeffrey S. Haddad, DDS, a cosmetic dentist at Rochester Advanced Dentistry, who was not involved in the research, said he was nevertheless excited about the study findings.

“I think it’s exciting to learn this because anything that we can do to help reduce the bacteria in our mouth, and especially the bacteria that can cause gum disease is a good thing,” he told us.

He highlighted that researchers had been unable to point to a potential mechanism that could be underpinning the findings, but emphasized that any research showing that this bacteria could be reduced is worthwhile.

According to Haddad:

“[T]his study is very exciting. It gives us a lot of information on incorporating this into treatment of either people who have the potential for periodontitis or who have periodontitis and are trying to manage it.”

Ultimately, periodontitis is a gum disease which, if left to progress, can cause problems with the jaw bone that holds the teeth in place. Recent developments promote prevention rather than cure, with good oral hygiene being at the forefront of efforts.

“‘Periodontitis’ is the medical term for gum disease, which begins as gingivitis before advancing to the periodontitis stage,” Jerald Friedman, DDS, from North Jersey Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, not involved in this study, explained for MNT.

“Inflammation in the supporting structures of the teeth, including gums, the jaw bone, and surrounding ligaments characterize it,” he noted. “Inconsistent oral hygiene, chronic dehydration, and stress are all risk factors for developing this condition.”

While these are all modifiable factors that individuals can act on, other factors, including hormonal changes and having diabetes, can also increase a person’s risk of periodontitis, Friedman told us.

“In addition to regular brushing and flossing, consistent dental check-ups and cleanings are essential for managing all stages of gum disease. Scaling and root planing is a common first step in treating periodontitis,” he pointed out.

However, the larger picture is more unclear. Periodontitis has been linked to poor cardiovascular outcomes and is linked to many diseases that have a tie to inflammation, including type 2 diabetes and cancer.

The direction of these link remains unclear: Are people with periodontitis at greater risk of cardiovascular disease because they have poor lifestyle habits, or because of an underlying inflammatory condition?

“I think that what people don’t understand is just how serious periodontitis is,” said Haddad. “When you have that bacteria in your mouth, obviously it’s in [the rest of] your body as well,” he pointed out.

“I think the main thing is for patients to be aware that your mouth is the gateway to your body, and […] the bacteria [in your gums] can affect your overall health.”

– Jeffrey S. Haddad, DDS