For those of us with a sweet tooth, there is good news on the
dental front. Despite the fact that raisins are sweet and
sticky, scientists at the University of Illinois in Chicago have
found them to contain compounds that prevent tooth decay and
gingivitis.
There are a number of constituents in raisins that address the
problem of plaque-causing bacteria in the mouth. Some, like
oleanolic acid are very good at killing these bacteria.
Oleanolic acid, oleanolic aldehyde, and 5-(hydroxy
methyl)-2-furfural also reduce the ability of these bacteria to
grow. In particular, they work against Streptococcus mutans, and
Porphyromonas gingivalis.
Oleanolic acid is also effective at preventing the bacteria
Streptococcus mutans from sticking to the surface of the tooth,
The bacteria need to stick to the teeth to form plaque, after
which they start eroding the tooth enamel. Sucrose, not the
fructose and glucose that raisins have in them, are what creates
the environment for tooth decay.
Cranberries have also been found to prevent bacteria
(specifically Streptococcus mutans) from sticking to teeth, and
causing gum disease and tooth decay. There are now dental floss
products and toothpastes in the US that contain cranberry
extract. And the British Dental Health Foundation is
recommending cranberry extracts and juice to prevent tooth decay
and associated problems. But because of cranberry juice's
acidity, they recommend only taking it at mealtimes. Acidic food
and drinks temporarily soften the enamel on teeth.
Symptoms of gum disease include red and swollen gums that bleed
easily, tooth sensitivity, spaces developing between teeth, pus
between teeth, chronic bad breath, pain in the mouth, and
changes to the bite of teeth. Plaque is the main cause of gum
disease, though other factors can speed up the process of gum
degradation. These include smoking, a genetic predisposition,
pregnancy, puberty, stress, poor diet (and yo-yo dieting
wouldn't help), medications like anti-depressants, and oral
contraceptives, grinding teeth at night, diabetes, and some
other systemic diseases.
References:
1. www.perio.org
2. www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=60518
3. www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=567
|
