One More Thing Red Wine is Good for: Your Gums

SportsGeezer readers are ever mindful of evidence that red wine might slow Alzheimer's, spare us from cataracts, and cut the risk of some cancers. Now a Canadian study suggests that it might also stave off periodontitis, an unpleasant gum disease that afflicts about 65 percent of people over the age of 50, and that can lead to loss of bone, and teeth. The disease is caused by bacteria that stimulate the immune cells and release highly active oxygen free radicals.
The London Times reports that a research team from the Université Laval, in Quebec, is convinced that the antioxidants in many fruits and vegetables — and in red wine — can counter the free radicals. The researchers used an extract of cranberry juice, very similar to the polyphenols found in red wine, to test the effects of polyphenols on the immune response from a range of bacteria commonly found in the mouth. They found that cranberry juice was a potent inhibitor of inflammation, and suggested that it could form the basis of a new approach to treating gum diseases. Geezer is solidly with them. Doubting readers can learn more about why we should switch from white wine to red in the Journal of Dental Research.