Red wine helps prevent tooth decay.

In addition to proper oral hygiene as advised by your dentist, you can also avoid cavities by drinking red wine, according to a new study.

Grape seed extract and red wine have been found to have the ability to kill plaque caused by bacteria, helping to effectively prevent cavities. (Image: Word Press)

A study recently published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that red wine may help prevent tooth decay.

Researcher Maria Victoria Moreno-Arribas from the Spanish National Research Council and her colleagues explain that oral diseases are now extremely common worldwide. Statistics show that cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss affect approximately 60-90% of the global population.

Problems arise when certain bacteria in the mouth bind together and form biofilms, making them difficult to eliminate. Many biofilms combine to form plaque and secrete acids that destroy teeth.

Brushing, fluoride in toothpaste and water, and other oral care practices can help remove bacterial plaque, but their effectiveness is limited. Building on previous research suggesting that grape seed extract and wine can slow bacterial growth, Moreno-Arribas and her colleagues investigated whether they could prevent cavities.

The research team cultured oral pathogenic bacteria into biofilms. They then immersed these biofilms in various solutions, including regular red wine, non-alcoholic red wine, red wine containing grape seed extract, water, and 12% ethanol, for several minutes. The results showed that red wine (with or without alcohol) and red wine containing grape seed extract were most effective at killing the bacteria.

This discovery could lead to the development of natural products to combat oral disease, based on grape seed extract and components of red wine.

However, not all recent studies bring good news for wine drinkers. Last week, a study claimed there is no evidence to support the claim that red wine can extend human lifespan. Specifically, resveratrol, an antioxidant commonly found in the skin of red grapes, does not have a significant enough impact on inflammation, cardiovascular disease, cancer, or human longevity.

According to Vietnamnet