Studies in Italy have shown that chemicals in red wine called proanthocyanidins, phytonutrients found in foods like grapes, apples and chocolate that have antioxidant properties, seem to prevent the bacteria Streptococcus mutans, which causes tooth decay, from sticking to saliva and teeth.
Italian researchers removed the alcohol from a high-quality Italian red wine, then added the nonalcoholic red wine to cultures of S. mutans in saliva, saliva-coated extracted teeth and saliva-coated calcium ceramic beads. They found that the addition of the wine prevented the bacteria clinging to the saliva and the teeth.
The Italian researchers say they would like to study the effects of grape juice on S. mutans in the future.
Research conducted at Cornell University in New York and in Canada found that polyphenols, or chemicals in grape seeds and red wine that help neutralize the damaging effect of damaging free radical atoms in the body, seem to help limit inflammation caused by gingivitis, or bacterial infections of the gums. Limiting inflammation may also protect against periodontal disease, a more serious form of gingivitis that can lead to tooth decay or tooth loss.
"Our findings demonstrate that red wine polyphenols have potent antioxidant properties," concluded the study authors from the Université Laval in Quebec, Canada.
Research isn't as clear about benefits of white wines, and some researchers say the high acid content of white wine might erode tooth enamel
No comments:
Post a Comment