Study: Cranberry Juice May Help Prevent Tooth Decay
Pediatric dentist Christine Wu of the University of Illinois Chicago reports in Scientific Reports that cranberry juice may curb the activity of plaque bacteria. The study suggests compounds in cranberries can help prevent tooth decay.
Cranberry juice, often seen as tart and sugary, may actually benefit oral health. That is the conclusion of a study published in the journal Scientific Reports by pediatric dentist Christine Wu of the University of Illinois Chicago in the United States. The findings suggest that substances found in cranberries can help prevent tooth decay.
What the researcher says
Wu notes that most people believe cranberry juice is very sour and high in sugar, so it probably does not support oral health. In her words, the new study points to the opposite.
How the compounds in cranberries work
Cranberries contain compounds called proanthocyanidins, which can inhibit bacterial infections. It was already known that these substances make cranberries effective against urinary tract infections, and it has now been confirmed that they may also help against tooth decay.
In urinary tract infections, the proanthocyanidins in cranberry juice make it harder for the bacterium Escherichia coli to attach to the cells lining the bladder wall. In the mouth, they instead suppress the activity of bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans.
Streptococcus mutans accumulates in the biofilm of dental plaque and produces acids. These acids can contribute to tooth decay, which is why curbing the bacteria's activity is linked to protecting teeth.
