Wine and oral health

by Dr. Eric Eby, DDS

For years, research has shown that red wine may provide us with substantial health benefits. Studies across many disciplines of medicine have shown red wine to be beneficial for cardiovascular health, intestinal health, and it may help to reduce blood pressure and the risk of stroke.

Of course, this assumes that wine is consumed in moderation.

Recently, a Spanish research team has shown that red wine can bolster the health of our gut microbiome which is the collection of microorganisms that live within our digestive system. It is important to remember that the oral cavity is the beginning of our digestive tract so it, too, has a complex microorganism system.

With this in mind the Spanish researchers began isolating compounds, mainly polyphenols, that performed as anti-bacterial agents.

The team discovered that all tested compounds proved to be effective with keeping bacteria from settling into teeth and gums. More specifically, the two poly-phenols found in red wine- caffeic and p-coumaric acids were more effective than pure grape seed and red wine extracts.

The researchers found caffeic and p-coumaric acids were able to reduce decay-causing bacteria Streptococcus mutan’s stickiness by 20 percent and 40 percent respectively. The over-thecounter supplements pure grape and red wine extracts did not exert any inhibitory effects.

In conclusion, the pure phenolic compounds from red wine showed that they had an intrinsic ability to prevent adherence of S. mutans and F. nucleatum to teeth and gums. Of course more research is needed and I don’t think we will be using red wine anytime in the near future for an oral hygiene regimen, but it definitely will lead to more research on how polyphenols may help fight oral disease.

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