Blueberry Extract Can Help Fight Gum Disease
Scientists have found that blueberry extract may help prevent plaque formation. A report by American Chemical Society's (ACS) on Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry may lead to a new treatment for periodontitis and a reduction in the use of antibiotics.
Periodontal disease is a common disease in adults. Bacteria form a biofilm or plaque on the teeth, causing inflammation of the gums. Some serious symptoms, called periodontitis, require the use of antibiotics. But now scientists have found that wild blueberry extract may help prevent plaque formation. A report by American Chemical Society's (ACS) on Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry may lead to a new treatment for periodontitis and a reduction in the use of antibiotics.
Many people suffer from varying degrees of gingivitis, or plaque caused by gingivitis. Gingival becomes inflamed, easy bleeding. If left unchecked, the disease can develop into periodontitis. Dental plaque hardens the formation of calculus, infection can spread to the gum line below the destruction of the organization supporting the teeth. For the treatment, the dentist will scratch the tartar, and sometimes have to resort to traditional antibiotics. But recently, researchers have begun looking for natural antibacterial compounds for the treatment of gum disease. Daniel Grenier and colleagues wanted to see if blueberry polyphenols would help fight Fusobacterium nucleatum, which would have been resistant to food borne pathogens, while Fusobacterium nucleatum was associated with periodontitis one of the major bacterial species.
In the laboratory, the researchers tested the wild bush blueberry extract - Vaccinium angustifolium Ait. Against F. nucleatum. The blueberry extract rich in polyphenols successfully inhibited the growth of F. nucleatum, and its ability to form biofilm. It also prevents the molecular pathways involved in the inflammatory response - a key part of gum disease. Researchers say they are developing an oral agent that can slowly release blueberries after deep cleansing of the teeth to help treat periodontitis. (Source: American Chemical Society (ACS))