Chemicals in red wine could stop tooth decay

Chemicals in red wine could provide an unexpected route to healthier teeth and gums, research suggests.

In laboratory tests, the polyphenol plant compounds were found to fend off the bugs that cause tooth decay and gum disease.

But experts warned against using wine as a mouthwash with unusual benefits. The chemicals were used in far higher concentrations than occur naturally in wine, and for exposure times of more than 24 hours.

Nevertheless, the Spanish research is said to shed light on the roles of “good” and “bad” mouth bacteria and could point the way to new approaches to improving oral health.

The compounds studied are also found in coffee, grape juice and cranberry juice.