Raisins and Oral Health


In a recent scientifically controlled study, researchers measured the dental plaque of children ages 7-11. Dental plaque pH was measured in intervals after children ate raisins, raisin-containing cereal and cereal alone.

Eating raisins alone did not lower plaque pH below pH6 over the 30 minute test. This indicates that raisins did not lower plaque pH to the critical level that would increase the risk of tooth decay. The addition of raisins to bran flakes promoted a smaller plaque pH drop beyond 10 minutes when compared to bran flakes alone. Raisins were less acidogenic (acid-forming) than a raisin bran cereal, bran flakes or a 10% sucrose solution.

The study results show that raisins were less retentive on tooth surfaces and were rapidly cleared after chewing, and actually lowered the acidogenicity and clearance rate when added to bran flakes.

Wu, C. D. Grape products and oral health. The Journal of Nutrition. 2009 Sep; 139(9):1818S-1823S