Talking about the history of wine is talking about the history of civilizations. Its cultivation and consumption are related to activities such as agriculture, cultural celebrations, social relations, gastronomy and, of course, health.
The Egyptians already used wine for medicinal purposes more than 5.000 years ago, and in ancient Greece and Rome it was used, among other things, as a bactericide. We don't have to go that far to remember the commercials of our childhood with cinchona-based medicinal wines that served to "whet the appetite" (such as the well-known Quina San Clemente). Although many of these uses have no scientific basis and are no longer recommended today, recent studies have shown certain benefits regular and moderate consumption of wine, preferably red.
How does wine benefit dental health?
For example, A study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry showed that red wine helps fight bacteria that stick to the teeth and cause the formation of biofilms and dental plaque, which in turn are responsible for dental diseases. The polyphenols contained in wine act as natural antioxidants that slow down the growth of the bacterial flora of the teeth and gums.
Un University of Pavia study (Italy) indicates, along the same lines, that wine improves dental health. Specifically, acts against the bacteria that cause cavities and other dental diseases of bacteriological origin.
In addition, by reducing bacterial infections of the gums, it helps to combat inflammation caused by gingivitis.
But watch out for stains!
Like any food, it also has its contraindications. Red wine contains chromogen, whose pigments adhere to teeth and cause unsightly stains.
Moreover, the acidity of wine wears down tooth enamel and encourages other substances to stain it. In this case, a study reveals that white wine is more aggressive than red wine with our glaze, since the vast majority of white wines have more acidity than red wines.
Professor Walmsley, a member of the British Dental Association and responsible for this study, recommends that if we have a glass of wine we do so at the same time as we eat, and that let's wait thirty minutes before brushing our teeth. The enamel needs time to recover after contact with wine, and brushing can worsen its effects.
Another recommendation he makes is accompany the wine with cheese. Wine attacks the calcium in your teeth, and since cheese is rich in calcium, it helps neutralize its effects.
Thus, oral hygiene treatments help us keep our mouth healthy and whitening to control and counteract the possible coloration effects of the wine.
In short, don't deprive yourself of a glass of red wine from time to time, and don't forget to visit your dentist every six months for a check-up and cleaning. Remember that it is easier to keep clean than to clean what has been dirty!