Gum disease is a common condition that, in severe cases, calls for antibiotics. Now, researchers are developing a treatment based on wild blueberry extract that could prevent the formation of dental plaque that leads to gum disease. A report on the work, by a team from Université Laval in Canada, can be found in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Many people have some degree of gum inflammation, or gingivitis, that results from the build-up of dental plaque containing bacteria.
However, if the inflammation persists, it eventually leads to gum or periodontal disease. If the bacterial plaque is not removed - for example, by regular brushing and gum care - it leads to a much harder deposit called tartar that only a dental health professional can remove to stop the periodontal disease process. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly half of…
