Grape seeds: New weapon in fight against tooth decay?
View(s):By Claudia Tanner For Mailonline
A natural compound found in grapes has been found to strengthen teeth and prevent tooth decay, a study says.
Scientists claim that the discovery could stop people from losing teeth and also boost the strength of fillings, allowing them to last longer.
Grape seed extract – a byproduct of the wine making industry which can be purchased from health food shops – has long been linked to health benefits such as improved heart function and better circulation. Now the substance could reduce tooth extractions by increasing the longevity of composite-resin fillings – or tooth-coloured fillings – which typically last only five to seven years.
The extract has been found to toughen dentin, the tissue that makes up the bulk of the tooth which lies beneath the hard external enamel, according to the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry.This means that when teeth are damaged, the remaining structure can be made stronger to bond with materials used in fillings.