Will Beer Improve your Dental Health?

HopsHappy Friday! Do you like to sometimes start your weekends off with a nice cold beer? If you are a true beer connoisseur, then you probably know a bit about the hops in the elixir which gives it a bitter flavor and smell. Scientists have studied hops to discover that healthful antioxidants have the potential to thwart tooth decay and periodontal disease. Vernon Hills cosmetic dentist, Dr. Brent Engelberg will drink to this good news.

Hops: Heavy in Antioxidants

All joking aside, the compounds in hops which contain healthful antioxidants are not the ones important in beer making. Once research study recently printed in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry showed that antioxidant polyphenols inside hop leaves (also known as bracts) will help lower the risk for cavities and gum disease. Using chromatography in a laboratory, the researchers found three compounds in the hops leaves rich in antioxidants, including proanthocyanidins. Isolating certain extracts from the plant halted the germs which cause oral infections by making the surfaces of teeth and gums slippery to the bacteria. Without the ability to stick to the tissues in your mouth, bacteria cannot release harmful toxins.

Making Great Use of Hops Leaves

About 2,300 tons of hops are farmed every year in America.  The bracts are thrown away because there is no use for them in beer production. Seeing the potential the compounds have for better dental health, research is certainly on the right track. With the popularity of beer all over the world, a large amount of bracts are discarded when they stand to become a prime ingredient in dental self-care products. Beer flavored mouthwash may not make a good future product, and we are not saying that drinking beer will improve your dental health, but this innovation has the potential to offer a great repurposing of an ingredient which normally becomes landfill.

Visit your Vernon Hills Cosmetic Dentist

If you would like to arrange a consultation to discuss cosmetic dental options with Dr. Engelberg, schedule an appointment with our 60061 dentist office by calling 847-259-8030. We are happy to serve patients in Northbrook, Deerfield, Highland Park, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Libertyville, Skokie, Evanston, Palatine, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Rolling Meadows, Northwest Chicago Suburbs, and Northern Chicago Suburbs.