Wine: Kills Germs on Contact
By
Dave
Mosher,
LiveScience Staff Writer
Drinking wine can maintain heart health, prevent cancer
and even settle a mean case of diarrhea. Research now
shows it's also good for your teeth and throat.
According
to a new study, a cocktail of compounds found in both
red and white wine fights germs that can cause dental
plaque as well as sore throats.
"Exposure
to wine had a persistent antibacterial effect,"
the authors wrote in their study, detailed in an upcoming
issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
Prior to their research, the authors said the effects
of wine against germs found in the mouth
hadn't been studied.
Red
wines have stronger bacteria-fighting effects than white
wine, although not by much. Curiously, the acidity and
alcohol isn't responsible for wine's germ-fighting properties-instead,
it's a collection of organic (carbon-containing) compounds
found in the drink.
After
isolating the compounds from wine, which included lactic,
malic, succinic and tartaric acids, the researchers
neutralized their acidity. They then showed that the
isolated antibacterial
compounds were more successful than wine
alone at killing 99.9 percent of the dental and sore
throat bacteria, even when used in far lower concentrations
than found in wine.
Because
the mixture worked better outside of the wine, the researchers
think that something in the beverage dampens its powerful
germ-fighting abilities-comparable to antiseptic mouthwashes
found in stores.
But
don't run out and gargle wine before brushing just yet,
as the acids in wine can actually soften the hard but
thin coat of protective tooth enamel.
"Sipping
or holding acidic drinks in the mouth before swallowing
increases the risk
of erosion on dental enamel," said Dr.
David Bartlett of the Academy of General Dentistry.
To cut down on this risk, Bartlett recommends waiting
at least 20 minutes before brushing after eating any
acidic foods.
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