Move over minty mouth rinses. Now, our good old coconut gets to sit on the dental throne.
Hear this! Apart from many health benefits and nutritional contents of coconut, breakthrough findings have shown that coconut oil can be a natural antibiotic-when digested, destroying bacteria that cause tooth decay.
According to researchers at the Athlone Institute of Technology, Ireland, the antibiotic component in digested coconut oil could be added to dental care products. This was highlighted at the Society for General Microbiology’s autumn conference at the University of Warwick, England.
Dental caries is a commonly overlooked health problem affecting 60 to 90 per cent of children and the majority of adults in industrialized countries.
–Dr. Damien Brady
Athlone Institute of Technology
Dr. Damien Brady and team set out to determine whether coconut oil have antibacterial qualities at combatting some strains of Streptococcus bacteria which commonly inhabit the human mouth and cause tooth decay.
–Dr. Damien Brady
Athlone Institute of Technology
Dr. Damien Brady and team set out to determine whether coconut oil have antibacterial qualities at combatting some strains of Streptococcus bacteria which commonly inhabit the human mouth and cause tooth decay.
They tested coconut oil in its natural and semi-digested state. Scientists found out that the digested oil stopped most Streptococcus bacteria from multiplying.
Of particular interest was Streptococcus mutans, sugar-loving bacteria that latch tight to our pearly whites and produce acid-causing cavities and tooth decay.
The researchers also believe that the enzyme-modified coconut oil (in its semi-digested state), may have commercially viable antimicrobial qualities for the oral healthcare industry.
So, don’t be surprised to see coco-amplified dental products in the years to come.
