Years ago, raisins were believed to have certain benefits for oral health. Now, however, many are pointing to raisins as one of the major causes of tooth decay.
Raisins - and dried fruits in general - are one of the primary culprits for tooth decay, according to dentist and mother Dr. Saara Sabir. She cited high sugar content as the reason why children who regularly snack on these sweet treats suffer from tooth decay despite the fact that raisins and dried fruits are healthier snack options compared to other sweet food, Mirror reported.
"Raisins and dried fruit are a big problem. Many parents think they're a good option because they're packed with vitamins," Sabir explained. "Raisins are sticky, and get stuck in teeth. Therefore the bacteria has a prolonged source of sugar, so it can cause decay for a longer period of time."
This is contrary to a study released a decade ago saying raisins contain certain phytochemicals that fight and suppress the growth of bacteria in the mouth. The study, which was presented at the 105th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in June 2005, provided five phytochemicals present in raisins that stopped the growth of bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease, according to WebMD.
"Although the scientists found that raisins may contain chemicals that aid your oral health, they failed to disprove the well-known fact that they are also very sticky and contain sugar, meaning that they are still highly likely to cause decay," Dr. Nigel Carter of the British Dental Health Foundation explained to The Guardian. "Raisins contain high levels of sugar, and as they stick to the teeth, the acid attack that results goes on for longer and leads to decay."
Does this mean children should stop eating raisins altogether? Sabir said no. The best way to maximize the nutritional benefit of raisins is to give them at the right time - during meals.
"Sugar as part of a meal is not detrimental to the teeth, so saving sweet treats for mealtimes doesn't cause decay," Sabir said. "However, frequent snacking of sweet foods and drinks between meals causes the mouth to remain in an acidic state - which is ideal for decay to occur."
