Blueberries Could Improve Your Oral Health, But Don’t Get Your Hopes Up
Another natural extract is making the rounds in the medical community, this time promising to help fight nasty dental conditions that can drastically impact your pearly whites.
According to Daily Rx News, scientists from the Université Laval in Quebec have found that compounds in blueberries called polyphenols may stop oral bacteria from growing.
The study is the latest in a series of reports supporting the health benefits of food extracts. For example, the International Business Times recently reported that a new cocoa-extract can help fight Alzheimer’s.
While you may associate blueberries with leaving a blueish-black tint on your teeth, Dr. Daniel Grenier, a microbiologist and professor of dentistry at Université Laval, believes a specific extract may aid in fighting gingivitis.
Gingivitis occurs when bacteria forms plaque on the teeth, which leads to inflamed gums. If left untreated, it can progress to periodontitis, or severe gum disease, which has been linked to serious health conditions such as heart disease and Alzheimer’s.
Dr. Grenier and team tested blueberry extracts against a bacterium called Fusobacterium nucleatum, which is one of the primary bacteria species in periodontitis.
According to NewsMax, the blueberry extract didn’t simply inhibit the growth of the germ, but it also blocked a molecular pathway to prevent inflammation of the gums.
While the news is promising for the future of dentistry, even visiting your family dentistry practice and seeing a periodontist with experience in treating the disease is still your best option.
In the meantime, feel free to eat as many blueberries as you want. Even if they don’t improve your oral health, they sure are delicious.
