Effects of green tea and chamomile tea on plaque pH, salivary pH, Streptococcus mutans count

Aim: Green tea is healthy beverage and is a part of our day to day life. Similarly, chamomile tea is known for its aspirin like properties. Beneficial effects of these tea includes protection against dental caries, periodontal disease and tooth loss and found that can a decrease in streptococcus mutans count as well as increase in pH. Hence the present study was to compare the pH of saliva and plaque, before and after the intake of green tea and to evaluate the role of green tea and chamomile tea on growth of s.mutans in culture using saliva. Material and Methods: Salivary samples were collected from 30 healthy individuals aged 20-30 years with certain criteria. The pH of saliva was determined by collecting samples before, immediately after and 15 min, 30 min after drinking tea using pH meter. Similarly the microbial colonies were also counted. The Data obtained were analyzed using Wilcoxon’s, Friedman's and Mann Whitney test. Results: There was statistically no significant difference between salivary streptococcus mutans count before and after (p 0.001) intake of green tea and chamomile tea. Conclusion: The result of the present study has proved that consumption of green tea and chamomile tea inhibit salivary Streptococcus mutans count and cause reduction of pH in saliva. So, it is advisable to encourage the regular consumption of this widely available, tasty and inexpensive beverage as an interesting alternative to other drinks