Sipping on a glass of red wine may help keep your teeth healthy, researchers reveal.
In a study conducted on dental cavities, researchers found red wine and grape seed extract, as highly promising. Both succeeded in eliminating certain communities of bacteria responsible for the formation of plaque and tooth decay.
Good oral health is crucial to maintain overall health of a person. However, tooth-related problems are found very common among all age groups, starting from infancy to old age. According to the background information provided in the study, between 60 and 90 percent of the global population is affected with tooth-related problems like dental cavities and tooth loss.
Mouth is home to both good and bad bacteria. Due to various reasons, certain types of bacteria found in the mouth stick together and form into communities called biofilms. These types of bacteria are difficult to destroy and start damaging the teeth by building plaque and producing acid. Though growth of these bacterial plaques can be managed with regular brushing or using fluoride toothpaste, these methods succeed only to a certain extend.
In the study, M. Victoria Moreno-Arribas and colleagues, initiated to examine whether grape seed extract, polyphenols and wine can stop bacterial growth.
Researchers grew bacteria cultures (related to oral diseases) to form biofilms. These biofilms were tested in different types of liquids - red wine with and without alcohol, red wine with grape seed extract, and finally a combination of water with ethanol (12 percent). Biofilms dipped in the first two liquids- red wine with and without alcohol, red wine with grape seed extract- didn't survive.
Researchers expected that their findings will help improve the currently available treatments for dental diseases and lead to the development of natural treatments without any side-effects.
The study has been reported in American Chemical Society's Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
