According to the latest issue of the American Society for Microbiology journal "Microbiology Spectrum," Japanese researchers have found that in laboratory studies, matcha inhibits the growth of gingivalis bacteria. Furthermore, in a clinical study involving 45 periodontitis patients, the levels of gingivalis bacteria in saliva samples of those using matcha mouthwash were significantly reduced.
Matcha is a finely ground green tea powder that, besides providing a boost of energy, may also help inhibit bacteria in the mouth. Image Source: American Health Medical Website
Matcha is a finely ground green tea powder. Scientists have long been studying the potential inhibitory effects of matcha on bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
Researchers from the School of Dentistry at a university in Japan, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Japan, and other institutions conducted a series of in vitro experiments to test the effects of matcha solution on 16 oral bacteria, including 3 types of periodontal pathogens. Within 2 hours, almost all cultured periodontal pathogen cells were killed by matcha extract; after 4 hours, all bacterial cells were dead. These findings suggest that matcha has bactericidal activity against pathogens.
Subsequently, researchers recruited 45 individuals diagnosed with chronic periodontitis for a follow-up clinical study. Patients were randomly divided into 3 groups: the first group used barley tea mouthwash, the second group used matcha extract mouthwash, and the third group used mouthwash containing chamomile extract. Researchers collected saliva samples before and after the intervention, conducted polymerase chain reaction analysis, and instructed participants to rinse twice daily.
Analysis showed that patients using matcha mouthwash had significantly reduced levels of periodontal pathogens, while the other two groups did not show this change.
