Juice manufacturer Ocean Spray ITG will be highlighting the health benefits of the North American cranberry at Health Ingredients Europe (HiE) 2006 following recent research which cites its potential for improving oral health.
The clinical paper, published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, confirmed cranberry may be the next weapon in the fight against gum disease.
Researchers reportedly found the natural compounds in cranberries may help ward off periodontitis - severe gum disease - by serving as a powerful anti-inflammatory agent.
It is thought this anti-inflammatory effect may be created by unique compounds in the fruit, proanthocyanidins (PACs), which prevent P.gingivalis bacteria from adhering to the teeth below the gum line.
In addition, previous trials have shown that cranberry compounds may also prevent certain oral bacteria from directly destroying gum tissue itself - another major factor contributing to periodontitis.
The benefits of this research could be even more widespread as recent studies have also linked severe gum disease with an increased likelihood of heart disease and stroke.
Meanwhile, a study by US dentists has found fruit drinks may be linked to tooth decay in toddlers.
Pediatric dentist Stephen Pretzer said sugar in drinks, even those considered healthy, such as fruit juice, could be responsible for the fact that more than four million toddlers in the US have tooth decay.
Pretzer said: “When it really becomes a problem is when they are being exposed to juices and sodas, and things like that in between meals and they’re being exposed all day long.”
Even naturally sweetened drinks, such as fruit juice, coat the teeth in sugar, which causes a build up in plaque and forms cavities, he added.
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