Is Red Wine Good for Oral Health?
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What You Should Know About Red Wine and Oral Health
It has been shown in the past having a moderate glass of red wine every day can do wonders for our overall health and more specifically for our heart health – but can the same be said for our oral health? New studies have shown that red wine may be helpful in preventing or slowing tooth decay as well as helping to inhibit gum disease. Chemicals found in red wine such as proanthocyanidins, which are also found in apples, chocolate, and grapes, are known to have antibacterial properties.
These antibacterial properties, according to studies being performed in Italy, seem to help keep Streptococcus mutans bacteria, which causes tooth decay, from being able to stick to the tooth’s surface. The same cannot be said, however, for white wines – researchers believe the high acid content found in many white wines will actually have an opposite effect on the teeth, causing erosion, and possible decay instead of protecting teeth like red wine seems to do.
One concerns individuals and dentists may have about an increased consumption of red wine is the staining that will occur to the tooth’s surface. Professional teeth whitening is one option for those who are experiencing increased staining of the teeth. The benefits of professional whitening is that it is generally very effective and the teeth are monitored and well cared for during the whitening sessions by a licensed professional. But one downside is that professional whitening can also be expensive.
Luckily, there are a much larger number of tooth whitening agents on the market today than ever before – consumers can choose from at home whitening gel or whitening strips that can help to gradually remove surface stains over time. Additionally, whitening toothpastes use abrasive agents to help remove stains from teeth. While these at home products will not produce the same results as professional whitening, they are able to whiten the teeth to some degree without a high cost.
In some respects, it is no surprise that red wine is beneficial for oral health, considering it has been proven to help improve heart and overall health. What many people may not realize is there is a deep connection between our oral and overall health – our diet and different health practices that are done for the body are often directly responsible for the health of our teeth, gums, and mouth. For example, a poor diet containing a lot of sugar can cause problems with our bodies, including weight gain and diabetes, but can also cause a higher amount of tooth decay.
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