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Written By: Agencies | Published : November 16, 2015 2:17 PM IST
You may want to think twice about giving your children raisins, a dentist has suggested. While acknowledged to be nutritionally and developmentally beneficial, even healthy food items can adversely affect a child's dental health and cause severe problems in later life, the Mirror reported. Saara Sabir, a practising dentist and mum-of-one from Salford, said that the most serious culprit of tooth decay was raisins and dried fruit, adding that many parents think they're a good option because they're packed with vitamins, but the concentrated sugar content in dried fruit is extremely detrimental to a child's teeth. (Read: 5 dental treatments you must always choose with care)
She noted that a small packet of raisins has around 8 teaspoons worth of sugar in. As per the NHS, the recommended daily sugar allowance for children aged four to six years-old is no more than five sugar cubes. For children aged seven to ten, it is no more than six. The reason dried fruit poses a particular danger is also because of its consistency. Saara continues that raisins are sticky and get stuck in teeth. Therefore the bacteria have a prolonged source of sugar, so it can cause decay for a longer period of time. She, however, said that because of the nutritional value, it's better to give your child raisins as a dessert or part of a meal rather than a snack. (Read: Home remedies for all your oral health problems)
Source: ANI
Photo source: Getty images
