Red Wine Fights Tooth Decay
For those who value their super-bright smile, it has always been the drink to avoid.
New research suggests moderate consumption of red wine helps to rinse teeth clean of bacteria during and after meals.
Italian scientist demonstrated that red wine made it difficult for harmful bacteria to cling to teeth, and in a statement on the United Kingdom's National Health Service site, conclude that the "prevention of tooth decay" may be another beneficial effect of the moderate consumption of red wine.
" The bacteria that cause the most dental damage is streptococcus mutants, which sets up housekeeping in the mouth by sticking to tooth enamel and living off sugar.
Once this bad bacterium takes hold, it triggers demineralization, and acid begins making pits causing teeth enamel to weaken which leads to cavities.
After following the leads of U.
S scientists, who last year discovered that chemicals in the seeds and skins of wine grapes blocked the ability of bacteria to bind with tooth enamel, researchers at Italy's Pavia University conducted experiments using red wine.
In order to rule out any effect of alcohol on the research, they used an Italian wine with all alcohol removed, and found that it indeed had the same effect of making it difficult for bacteria to attach and prevented them from forming a layer of bio-film on teeth.
The Italian's said that the active protective ingredient in the wine was a group of compounds found mainly in grape skins called proanthocyanidins, which are high in antioxidants.
They are now investigating the possibility of extracting the compounds and using them as a form of treatment on their own.
If red wine is good for one's teeth, what about white wine? It turns out that those who prefer white wine are out of luck at least as far as dental health is concerned.
Another recent study demonstrated that white wine could actually be harmful to teeth because of its high acid content can contribute to eroding tooth enamel.
For the moment, at least, when glasses are raised with a toast of "salud!" it might be best to hoist a glass of red (but no more than two a day for men and one for women).
Besides the dental benefits, even more studies suggest that moderate drinkers of red wine score higher on mental acuity tests than teetotalers, and that it can improve the immune system as well as battle heath problems such as diabetes, obesity, and the early onset of aging.
New research suggests moderate consumption of red wine helps to rinse teeth clean of bacteria during and after meals.
Italian scientist demonstrated that red wine made it difficult for harmful bacteria to cling to teeth, and in a statement on the United Kingdom's National Health Service site, conclude that the "prevention of tooth decay" may be another beneficial effect of the moderate consumption of red wine.
" The bacteria that cause the most dental damage is streptococcus mutants, which sets up housekeeping in the mouth by sticking to tooth enamel and living off sugar.
Once this bad bacterium takes hold, it triggers demineralization, and acid begins making pits causing teeth enamel to weaken which leads to cavities.
After following the leads of U.
S scientists, who last year discovered that chemicals in the seeds and skins of wine grapes blocked the ability of bacteria to bind with tooth enamel, researchers at Italy's Pavia University conducted experiments using red wine.
In order to rule out any effect of alcohol on the research, they used an Italian wine with all alcohol removed, and found that it indeed had the same effect of making it difficult for bacteria to attach and prevented them from forming a layer of bio-film on teeth.
The Italian's said that the active protective ingredient in the wine was a group of compounds found mainly in grape skins called proanthocyanidins, which are high in antioxidants.
They are now investigating the possibility of extracting the compounds and using them as a form of treatment on their own.
If red wine is good for one's teeth, what about white wine? It turns out that those who prefer white wine are out of luck at least as far as dental health is concerned.
Another recent study demonstrated that white wine could actually be harmful to teeth because of its high acid content can contribute to eroding tooth enamel.
For the moment, at least, when glasses are raised with a toast of "salud!" it might be best to hoist a glass of red (but no more than two a day for men and one for women).
Besides the dental benefits, even more studies suggest that moderate drinkers of red wine score higher on mental acuity tests than teetotalers, and that it can improve the immune system as well as battle heath problems such as diabetes, obesity, and the early onset of aging.
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