Should your dentist prescribe wine?

You would hardly expect your dentist to prescribe wine but new research shows that it could protect your teeth and gums.

The polyphenols in the wine are being credited with fending off the bacteria that cause tooth cavities and gum disease.

It is already known that polyphenols protect the body from the harm caused by free radicals but now it looks as if they might also promote health by interacting with bacteria in the gut.

Researchers looked at the effects of the polyphenols in red wine, grape seeds and red wine extracts.

They examined the effect on bacteria that stick to teeth and gums leading to dental plaque, cavities and gum disease.

The scientists isolated two polyphenols that were particularly effective and they found these were good at fending off the bacteria. They have recommended further research to see if their findings could be used as preventative therapies in managing dental disease.

Their results are published in the American Chemical Society Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.