Dried fruit and dental health

Abstract

A comprehensive review of the literature has found that the common perceptions that dried fruits are "sticky", adhere to teeth, and are detrimental to dental health on account of their sugar content are based on weak evidence. There is a lack of good quality scientific data to support restrictive advice for dried fruit intake on the basis of dental health parameters and further research is required. A number of potentially positive attributes for dental health, such as the need to chew dried fruits which encourages salivary flow, and the presence of anti-microbial compounds and of sorbitol, also require investigation to establish the extent of their effects and whether they balance against any potentially negative attributes of dried fruit. Advice on dried fruit consumption should also take account of the nutritional benefits of dried fruit, being high in fibre, low in fat and containing useful levels of micronutrients.

Dried fruit and dental health – how strong is the evidence?

“…In juices, the sugars present have been released from the cellular structure and are therefore considered to be ‘free sugars’, but the free sugars content of dried fruit is considered to be zero. However, chewing presumably releases sugars within cells into the mouth, and it is not clear when or if these are considered ‘free’ (Sadler ).…”

“…). A recent review of the evidence on dried fruit and dental health found a lack of good quality studies to support the advice to restrict intake to mealtimes (Sadler ). Relevant endpoints in studies assessing effects of foods on dental health are dental caries per se , net demineralisation and acidogenicity (measured by interproximal plaque pH, acid production or plaque pH per se ).…”

“…Mean lactic acid production over 2 hours was highest for raisins, peaking at 30 minutes, whereas lactic acid production at the time point of 120 minutes was lowest for raisins. A sixth study that met the inclusion criteria for the review by Sadler () did not provide any reliable information as it was designed to develop experimental techniques (Bibby et al . ).…”

“…Many of the papers investigating the effects of dried fruits, reviewed by Sadler (), compared the effects of a number of different snack foods on dental outcomes (Table ). In the study by Edgar et al .…”

“…This study was funded by Sun‐Maid Growers of California, and the review (Sadler ) was funded by the Californian Prune Board. The funders had no involvement in the drafting or content of the manuscripts.…”