Antibacterial Effects of Steeped White Tea, Black Tea, and Green Tea against Streptococcus mutans and Plaque Accumulation

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Tea is the most consumed beverage in the world after water. Tea (Camellia sinensis) is native to Southeast Asia and is now available in more than 30 countries. Tea has various health properties. Tea has an active component, namely catechins, which can inhibit the growth of Streptococcus mutans as a component of dental plaque formation. AIM: This study aims to determine the antibacterial effect of steeped white tea, black tea, and green tea on S. mutans and plaque accumulation. METHODS: The research used a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test group design. The population was students of the Department of Dental Nursing. Purposive sampling technique is used with a sample size of 48 students who were divided into three parts of the sample group for the 2.5% concentration of tea mouthwash treatment. The analysis used paired t-test to see the antibacterial effect and differences in three-variable test followed by Kruskal–Wallis test. RESULTS: The results showed that the mouth rinses of steeped white tea, black tea, and green tea were effective in reducing S. mutans and plaque accumulation on teeth. There is a significant difference in the inhibition zone of S. mutans against the three types of tea, and white has the largest inhibition zone. As for plaque accumulation, there is no difference between the three types of tea. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that mouth rinsing with steeping white tea, black tea, and green tea with a concentration of 2.5% has antibacterial properties that can inhibit S. mutans and plaque accumulation.

White Tea: A Review on Composition Characteristics, Extraction Techniques, and Application Potentials

“…Dental plaque contains highly organized microbial communities that adhere to the surface of hard dental tissues and is a major cause of various oral and pharyngeal diseases (Digel et al, 2020). In a clinical study, mouth rinsing with steeped 2.5% white tea steeped twice daily for four days significantly improved the plaque index, indicating a reduction in plaque accumulation on teeth (Damhuji et al, 2022). A similar study reported that white tea mouthwash was a potent antiplaque agent when used for 10 d, although less effective than chlorhexidine, a gold standard for plaque (Nagar et al, 2018).…”

Efektivitas Minyak Kelapa Murni (Virgin Coconut Oil) terhadap Diskolorasi Gigi Akibat Teh Hitam

“…Dibalik kegemaran masyarakat tentang mengonsumsi teh hitam dan efek menguntungkan teh sebagai antibakteri, ternyata teh hitam mengandung senyawa tanin yang dapat mengakibatkan perubahan warna pada gigi (diskolorasi gigi). [4][5][6] Pasien yang mengalami diskolorasi gigi akan mencari cara untuk mengembalikan kembali warna gigi yang lebih putih dan cerah seperti semula; salah satu cara yang paling umum dilakukan yaitu pemutihan gigi (bleaching). Bleaching merupakan teknik memutihkan yang dilakukan oleh dokter gigi, dengan harga yang cenderung mahal sehingga pasien yang mengalami diskolorasi gigi dengan tingkat ekonomi yang relatif rendah akan mencari bahan alami sebagai alternatif untuk mengembalikan warna gigi yang cerah.…”