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Gum Disease Prevention
With Raisins
By Rebecca Prescott
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=56744
.
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