Why Wine Drinkers Have Good Teeth

Since the time of the ancient Greeks if not before, man has understood the antibacterial properties of wine and it has been used to treat infected wounds. More recently the antioxidant and antiradical properties of wine have been associated with certain health benefits and protecting against coronary heart disease (and even Alzheimer's and prostrate cancer). Now a study has come out indicating that both red and white wine might combat harmful oral bacteria that are involved in tooth decay and some cases of sore throats.

If you want to impress your date, say this the next time you are handed the wine list:

"...both red and white wines have been proved to exert in vitro antibacterial activity against several oral streptococci and S. pyogenes and to induce postcontact effects against S. mutans. Succinic, malic, lactic, tartaric, citric, and acetic acid all exhibited antibacterial and postcontact activities and can therefore be collectively considered to be responsible for these properties."

Source: "Antibacterial Activity of Red and White Wine against Oral Streptococci" Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Department of Experimental and Applied Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 14, 27100 Pavia, Italy