Raisins may be good for your teeth

Have you ever heard that raisins are bad for your teeth? Turns out the opposite may be true.

Any food that's sweet and sticky might seem like a potential cavity culprit, even if it's a whole food like raisins. But researchers with the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) have produced evidence that raisins contain phytochemicals that kill bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease.

Chemical analysis by the UIC team identified five phytochemicals in Thompson seedless raisins. Three of the phytochemicals inhibited the growth of two types of oral bacteria, including Streptococcus mutans, which is known to cause cavaties.

Another phytochemical prevented S. mutans from adhering to the surface of teeth. Bacteria must be able to stick to teeth in order to form plaque.

Christine Wu - lead author of the study - told NutraIngredients.com that just because a food is sticky sweet doesn't mean it will cause cavities. She said, "It is mainly the added sugar, the sucrose, that contributes to the problem."

From the HSI e-Alert: HSIResearch@healthiernews.com