The last bite

Christmas rinse

As loyal and regular readers to this column will know, the December issue traditionally carries my yuletide tip for the present to buy for the dentist who has everything. There is often some new device or knick-knack that catches my eye at the autumn Showcase exhibition but, alas this year, not so.

What a bit of luck then that researchers have stepped forward with what I think will be the ideal, low cost, ecologically friendly gift that is not only a pleasant surprise but also a potentially health giving booster. The unlikely candidate is pomegranate mouthrinse; not a flavoured variety mind you, the real unadulterated crushed fruit extract. Apparently it has antimicrobial powers against at least three of the main periodontitis causing bacteria and in the experimental study performed as well as the gold standard chlorhexidine against one of them.

The only slight snag is that it is not yet available as an over-the-counter oral hygiene product so it might be a question of buying a bag full of the hard skinned beauties together with a juicing machine to complete the effect under the Christmas tree. But, hey, just think of the fun everyone will have spitting out those dozens of crushed pips.