Polyphenols in dark coloured berries could lower risk of tooth decay

Scientists have discovered that not only are dark coloured berries amongst the best dietary sources of antioxidants, water, fibre and other nutrients, eating a small quantity of them could lower the risk of tooth decay because they are a rich source of polyphenols that could provide innovative bioactive molecules as natural weapons against dental caries. In terms of sugar content, one portion of cranberries contains up to 4g of natural sugar while a serving of blueberries is nearly 10g.
The Oral Health Foundation’s CEO, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, said: “The nutrients and fibre in fruit are vital for our health and wellbeing. Cranberries seem especially good for our oral health, as their polyphenols stick around in our saliva and will continue to help our mouth, even after we’ve swallowed them. What is especially exciting is that these natural extracts are completely sugar-free. This means they can be added to oral care products in several ways. They can dissolve in water so can be used to create healthy drinks, as well as to reformulate unhealthy drinks packed full of sugar. They also have wider applications for tooth decay prevention and control. Mouthwash could benefit from this ingredient, as could toothpastes. More testing must be done but it will be extremely interesting to see whether manufactures make more use of polyphenols in the future.”