Tea for Bad Breath

Drink tea for bad breath? For years, it’s been standard wisdom that tea is a cause of bad breath (halitosis) and should be avoided, but recent scientific studies suggest otherwise. In fact, research has shown that compounds known as polyphenols, which are found in both green and black tea can fight halitosis in several ways. (See “Tea as a Functional Food for Oral Health,” by Christine Wu and Min Zhu, published in the journal Nutrition: Vol 18, N0 5, May 2002, Pg 443-444.)

The effect is strongest with black tea and halitosis, apparently because polyphenols known as theaflavins are present in higher concentrations in black tea compared to green tea: to produce black tea, tea leaves are oxidized (often called fermentation), converting the polyphenols known as catechins to theaflavins. Thus, while green tea has been shown to have many health benefits, the best tea for bad breath is black tea (“Black tea” in this context refers to tea made from black tea leaves. The literature does not address the effect that adding milk or cream to tea might have.)

The research suggests two connections between black tea and halitosis: polyphenols in low concentrations inhibit the ability of anaerobic oral bacteria to produce the foul smelling hydrogen sulfide associated with bad breath, and at high concentrations, the compounds actually inhibit the growth of these bacteria. Though the concentrations needed to inhibit bacterial growth may not be achievable by simply drinking ordinary black tea for bad breath, rinsing for thirty seconds with strong black tea would likely be beneficial.

Interestingly, drinking tea for bad breath may have other benefits for oral health. It seems that tea also fights cavities and reduces oral plaque. It’s long been known that tea contains significant amounts of fluoride, a compound known to strengthen dental enamel when applied topically, however the same researchers who linked black tea and halitosis found that rinsing with black tea inhibited the growth of cavity causing bacteria, inhibited the production of acid by these bacteria, and slowed the accumulation of dental plaque. (See “Tea Fights Cavities, Reduces Plaque,” by Christine Wu et al, published in Health and Medicine Week, June 11, 2001.)