%0 Journal Article
%T Anticariogenic Activity of Black Tea: An In Vivo Study.
%A Goswami P
%A Kalita C
%A Bhuyan AC
%J Cureus
%V 15
%N 5
%D 2023 May
%M 37273306
暂无%R 10.7759/cureus.38460
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>The prevention of dental caries has always remained a challenge. Caries prevention through dietary intervention holds promise. Studies have revealed that several constituents present in tea have anticariogenic properties. Tea is a widely consumed beverage and hence could be utilized as a suitable caries preventive agent. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of black tea on caries progression in experimental animals.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>This study was carried out in 17-day-old albino rat pups. The animals were divided into three groups, with eight animals in each group. They were fed on a cariogenic diet (MIT 200) and inoculated with Streptococcus mutans. Group I was given MIT 200 with water, Group II was placed on MIT 200 with black tea, and Group III was placed on MIT 200 with fluoridated water for a period of 45 days. After 45 days, the animals were killed under ether anesthesia, and their teeth were examined for caries.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>The carious lesions were scored for the first two molars in each quadrant. In each group, a total of 64 teeth were examined. The caries score between the upper and lower jaws was compared using ANOVA.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>From this study, it may be inferred that drinking black tea reduced the development of dental caries in young rats fed on a cariogenic diet. The tea used for this study was prepared using fluoride-free water, so we can assume that besides fluoride, certain components are present in tea leaves that possess anticariogenic properties.