Green tea may protect gums against disease

Consuming green tea may offer protection against gum disease, suggests a new study from Japan. Researchers from Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan suggest that the antioxidant catechins may be responsible for the protective effects. Previous research has indicated that the antioxidant has anti-inflammatory effects, and gum disease has been linked to an inflammatory response to periodontal bacteria in the mouth. The researchers report their findings in the Journal of Periodontology. The Fukuoka-based researchers report that of 940 men who regularly drank green tea had superior periodontal health than their peers who drank less green tea.