Do you enjoy the occasional glass of red wine with a meal? If you do, you may have noticed how the drink leaves your smile stained red. A drink that leaves a mark may leave you questioning whether or not it is healthy for you. While you may have already heard that red wine could be good for your heart and brain, you may not have known that it can be good for your smile. A recent study recently published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that red wine may have some benefits for your oral health.
The Benefits of Polyphenols
Many of the health benefits of red wine come from polyphenols. Polyphenols are micronutrients with antioxidant properties, which can protect against action of free radicals. Free radicals are unstable atoms that can play a part in the cellular aging process. Polyphenols act like nutritional superheroes with a trove of secret weapons; one of which is their impact on our gut bacteria. When polyphenols are absorbed into the small intestine, they interact with the gut microbiota to fend off some of the harmful bacteria. In the recent study, it was hypothesized that the polyphenols found in red wine and grapes could have that similar, protective effect in the mouth that is had on the gut. If so, it could lead to protection against the harmful oral bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease.
Oral Bacteria
The study includes comparisons of the effect of two types of polyphenol typically found in red wine as well as that of red wine and grape seed extracts on three harmful oral bacteria: Fusobacterium nucleatum, Streptococcus mutans, and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Experimenting with a laboratory model of gum tissue, it was found that the two red wine polyphenols were most effective at repelling the harmful oral bacteria and preventing them from attaching to healthy tissue.
Red wine may help prevent gum disease
Drinking red wine may have some benefits for your oral health. To schedule a consultation with Austin Prosthodontics in Austin, TX, call 512-250-9444. We also proudly welcome patients from Cedar Park, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Leander, and all surrounding Texas communities.
