Dried Fruit and Dental Health

JOURNAL: International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. 2016 Dec;67(8):944-59.

AUTHORS: Sadler MJ.

According to the abstract, a thorough literature review found that common perceptions about dried fruits – that they are “sticky”, adhere to teeth, and are detrimental to dental health because of their sugar content – are based on weak evidence. The lack of good quality scientific data to support restrictive advice for dried fruit intake on the basis of dental health parameters requires further research. The 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 these effects and whether they balance any potentially negative attributes of dried fruit. Advice on dried fruit consumption should also take account of their nutritional benefits, being high in fiber, low in fat and containing useful levels of micronutrients.
Published online: 14 Jul 2016 DOI: 10.1080/09637486.2016.1207061.

View original study: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09637486.2016.1207061