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.

Keywords:

• Dried fruits
• dental caries
• oral retention
• acid production
• sorbitol
• polyphenols

Acknowledgements

MS would like to acknowledge Jennette Higgs for her valuable help in critiquing the manuscript. The Californian Prune Board had no involvement in the drafting or content of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The author reports no conflicts of interest. MS works as a consultant nutritionist and has previously received consulting fees from a wide range of industry clients and trade associations.

Funding information

Financial support for literature searching and writing the paper was provided by the Californian Prune Board.