Raisins May Fight Cavities and Gum Disease
 (Reuters Health, 6/8/05)

Christine Wu of the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, and team, identified five phytochemicals in Thompson seedless raisins that, they say, might benefit teeth and gums—oleanolic acid, oleanolic aldehyde, betulin, betulinic acid and 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furfural. Although the researchers did not show whether or not people who eat raisins have healthier mouths, they speculate that the compounds in raisins may block the bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease.