Red Wine May Improve Periodontitis

Periodontitis is a progressive infectious process affecting the gums and bone surrounding and supporting the teeth. It can lead to bad breath and loosening of the teeth, and is thought to promote the development of coronary heart disease. About two in three people over 50 are affected by periodontitis, which often starts as gingivitis.

Quebec scientists, making use of the knowledge that polyphenols possess anti-inflammatory activity, selected red wine – a good source of polyphenols – to study in their research on treatments for periodontitis. They found that it was able to boost the scavenging of free radicals released by immune cells in response to gingivitis-causing bacteria. They conclude that red wine could be a useful agent in preventing and treating periodontitis. This is the sort of treatment we’re prepared to try without waiting for the results of at least two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials and FDA approval . . . Anyhow, red wine has plenty of other healthful properties.