Red wine has a beneficial effect on teeth and gums

Red wine has previously been attributed a range of health benefits, from strengthening heart function to lowering the risk of diabetes, and new research suggests it contains substances that may help combat tooth decay and gum disease.

Scientists have discovered that a component of wine known as polyphenol helps fight harmful bacteria in the oral cavity, reports the BBC. However, experts warn that this does not mean that red wine should now be consumed in larger quantities.

Earlier studies suggested that the health benefits of polyphenols are related to their role as antioxidants that protect the body from harmful free radicals, and more recent research shows that polyphenols can enhance health by working in conjunction with ‘good’ bacteria in digestion. In a study whose results were published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, scientists examined whether polyphenols from wine could benefit oral health.

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Scientists compared the effects of two polyphenols from red wine against grape seeds and red wine extract on bacteria that adhere to teeth and gums and cause plaque, cavities, and gum disease. They found that polyphenols from wine and extracts reduce the ability of bacteria to adhere, but polyphenols were more effective. In combination with Streptococcus dentisani – believed to be an oral probiotic that stimulates the growth of good bacteria, polyphenols were even better at blocking pathogenic bacteria.

This discovery could lead to new possibilities for dental treatment.

Scientists acknowledge that a limitation of their research is that it was conducted outside the human body on cells that simulated gum tissue. They also note that metabolites produced during the digestion of polyphenols, which begins in the oral cavity, may be responsible for some of the effects observed in the study.

Experts warn that consuming larger quantities of red wine, among other things, damages tooth enamel.