Good news for wine lovers: a component found in red wine can help prevent and treat periodontitis. The health benefits are believed to come from a broad range of compounds collectively known as polyphenols. Recent studies have also shown that red wine, and particularly grape seeds, possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour properties. Scientists from Université Laval (Québec, Canada) conducted a study to investigate the role of polyphenols, including those from red wine, in scavenging free radicals released by immune cells stimulated with components of bacteria causing periodontal diseases. Because free-radicals are generated by immune cells during periodontitis, it is critical to keep them at low levels to maintain healthy gums. The results of the study (reported at the recent 35th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental Research) indicated that red wine polyphenols significantly modulate several inflammatory components released by macrophages in response to bacterial stimuli. Specifically, polyphenols efficiently scavenged and inhibited free-radical generation by host immune cells by controlling intracellular proteins involved in their release. These anti-oxidant properties of red wine polyphenols could be useful in the prevention and treatment of inflammatory periodontal diseases.