Could GRAPES do wonders for your teeth? Seeds from juicy fruit are hailed as a new weapon in the fight against tooth decay

Grape seed extract could prevent people losing teeth and strengthen fillings
The current drawback of tooth-coloured fillings is they only last 5 to 7 years
But that could change with the new discovery by a team of Chicago dentists
The extract toughens a tooth’s dentin below the enamel, the researchers found
A third of adults have tooth decay and the average number of fillings is seven

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 discovery could increase the longevity of fillings which only last seven years (file image)

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.

It could spell good news for patients who opt for resin fillings because they are more aesthetically pleasing, even though they are not as tough amalgam fillings, which last 10 to 15 years or more.

‘When fillings fail, decay forms around it and the seal is lost. We want to reinforce the interface, which will make the resin bond better to the dentin,’ said Dr Ana Bedran-Russo, associate professor of restorative dentistry at the university.

‘The interface can be changed through the use of new natural materials.’

A third of adults have tooth decay, according to the Oral Health Foundation. Over four-fifths of the UK population have at least one filling and seven is the average number.

EXPERTS EXCITED ABOUT GRAPE SEED EXTRACT CLAIMS

Experts have welcomed the findings and say it could give Brits a chance to keep their teeth longer.

Better bonding ability will help restore not just broken teeth, but shattered patient confidence, too, said Dr Rob Wain, founder of the Dovetail Bespoke Dental Solutions in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

He said: ‘This could improve the chances of being able to rebuild teeth with porcelain and resin restorations, when teeth are very broken down.

‘It could be another string to the dentist’s bow when it comes to saving teeth, rather than having to lose them.’

Dr Wain suspects the breakthrough could also be particularly useful in patients whose teeth have been dissolved through acid reflux.

He explained: ‘We often see cases where people have worn their teeth down through an excess of acid reflux from their stomach.

‘It occurs in patients who have eating disorders like bulimia or anorexia, but we also see it with people who simply suffer indigestion over a long period of time.

‘The tooth’s enamel is eroded and it exposes the dentine underneath. And it can be extremely challenging to then glue repairs to that dentine.

‘Anything that can help to make this glue stronger is going to be of enormous benefit.’

How it works

Tooth decay can occur when acid is produced from plaque, which builds up on your teeth.

When we consume food and drink high in carbohydrates – particularly sugary foods and drinks – the bacteria in plaque turn the carbohydrates into energy they need, producing acid at the same time.

If the plaque is allowed to build up, the acid can begin to break down the surface of your tooth, causing holes known as cavities.

The cavity begins to eat away at the second level of tooth material that lies beneath the enamel: the dentin.

A filling can still be used to stop the onslaught of bacteria assaulting the tooth in order to prevent the cavity from reaching the tooth’s most critical component: the pulp.

Dentin in teeth is mostly made of collagen, the main structural protein in skin and other connective tissues, the researchers explained in the Journal of Dental Research.

They discovered that damaged collagen can repair itself with a combination of plant-based oligomeric proanthocyanidins – flavonoids found in most foods and vegetables – and extracts from grape seeds.

And when it comes to fillings, resins have to bind to the dentin, but the area between the two, or the interface, is a weak point, causing restorations to breakdown.

Interlocking the resin and collagen-rich dentin provides better adhesion and does not rely on moisture.

‘The stability of the interface is key for the durability of such adhesive joints, and hence, the life of the restoration and minimizing tooth loss,’ Dr Bedran-Russo said.