The polyphenols of red wine would be an essential ally for dental health and would protect against cavities, gingivitis and even tooth loss according to the results of a study published in the specialized journal Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
Dental problems are often due to an accumulation of bacteria in the form of biofilm. These bacteria attach themselves to the teeth in the form of plaque which adheres to the enamel. This plaque which develops on contact with sugar produces acid and attacks the teeth. Fluoride brushing and mouthwashes are effective but limited. Especially since the rinses are used too little because they modify the taste.
The effective red wine for dental problems
To find an effective treatment for dental problems, researchers at the University of Madrid in Spain cultivated bacteria that cause dental disease in the form of biofilm. They immersed these biofilms for a few minutes in different liquids including red wine, alcohol-free red wine, red wine enriched with grape seed extract, water and 12% ethanol. They made comparisons on the rate of destruction of these bacteria.
“Red wine with or without alcohol and wine with grape seed extract were the most effective in getting rid of the bacteria”, explains Mr. Moreno-Arribas Victoria, researcher in food science.
“Dental diseases are very common all over the world. Cavitiesperiodontal disease and tooth loss affect approximately 60 to 90% of the world’s population,” recalls Mr. Moreno-Arribas Victoria.
“This research is encouraging, but we need to validate these results in large-scale clinical trials. If confirmed, it would be possible to develop natural products based on grape extracts to ward off dental diseases with fewer side effects than red wine” concludes Moreno-Arribas Victoria.
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