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Coconut Oil Stops Tooth Decay

Caries bacteria often cannot be driven out even with thorough dental care. The reason for this lies in the consumption of sugary foods, which has been increasing sharply for years, combined with an overall nutrient-poor diet. This throws the oral flora out of balance and at the same time the immune system dwindles. This situation creates ideal living conditions for bacteria. They multiply rapidly, destroy tooth enamel, trigger inflammation and lead to tooth decay. Coconut oil can be used against tooth decay. Read how to do this here.

Coconut oil against bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites

Coconut oil is one of the most valuable foods due to its many positive effects on health. It owes this status not least to its antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic properties. Of course, the whole organism benefits from this.

In connection with dental health, however, the antibacterial effect of coconut oil is in the foreground. It’s the lauric acid in coconut oil (a medium-chain fatty acid) that is so good at fighting bacteria.

This is how coconut oil works against bacteria

When bacteria come in contact with coconut oil, lauric acid can rupture the cell membranes of the bacteria. The bacteria dissolve. Lauric acid is only supposed to have a corresponding effect against pathogenic bacteria. This is also made clear by the fact that lauric acid is naturally contained in breast milk (but not in breast milk substitutes) and can therefore support the baby’s not-yet sufficiently developed immune system.

Coconut oil against tooth decay

Scientists from the Athlone Institute of Technology in Ireland confirm the effect of coconut oil on bacteria that can cause tooth decay and inflammation in the mouth.

For their study, the researchers also used other oils in addition to coconut oil, to which they added fat-splitting enzymes. They mimicked the way fat is digested in the body.

The oils “digested” in this way were then brought into contact with different strains of bacteria. This included the bacterium Streptococcus mutans as well as the yeast fungus Candida albicans.

Streptococcus mutans is considered the main cause of tooth decay. It forms a solid mass from the sucrose contained in the chyme, with which bacteria can attach themselves to the tooth enamel. In addition, it metabolizes carbohydrates into lactic acid, which transforms what is actually a slightly basic oral environment into an acidic environment. These factors create an optimal habitat for pathogenic bacteria.

Candida albicans is a yeast that can cause inflammation in the mouth, among other things. It also needs an acidic environment to spread.

Coconut oil was the only oil used in this test series that was able to kill both pathogens without attacking health-promoting bacteria. As a result, the effect of coconut oil differs significantly from that of an antibiotic.

dr Brady, the lead researcher, commented:

The use of enzyme-modified coconut oil in dental care products is an excellent alternative to chemical additives (like fluorides), especially since the oil works at very low concentrations. And in view of the increasing resistance to antibiotics, it is extremely important to think about whether we can also fight future microbial infections in this way.

He also added:

The human digestive system naturally has antimicrobial properties, but these are severely limited by a lack of nutrients and vital substances. The use of coconut oil can therefore contribute in particular to strengthening the immune system as a whole and in particular to the defense against dangerous pathogens. The effect of coconut oil is of course not limited to the mouth but is evident throughout the body.

Fluoride does not protect your teeth

The effect of coconut oil in relation to bacteria and the Candida fungus could be clearly proven with this study. On the other hand, the situation is quite different when using fluoride against tooth decay. So far, no scientific study has been able to definitively prove that the use of toothpaste containing fluoride or fluoridation of the teeth really protects the teeth. Rather, some recent studies have shown that fluoride can actually be harmful to teeth.

The investigations showed that excessive intake of fluoride contributes to the development of what is known as dental fluorosis. This becomes noticeable through white or brownish spots or streaks on the tooth enamel. In severe cases, the entire tooth surface becomes discolored. However, this is not just a cosmetic problem, as this discoloration softens the enamel, making the teeth even more susceptible to tooth decay.

Coconut oil in dental care

The innovative combination of coconut oil and digestive enzymes in dental care products does not exist yet. But we hope that this groundbreaking development in dental and oral care will not be long in coming.

Irrespective of this, you can already benefit from the antibacterial effect of coconut oil to improve your oral flora, because it is ideal for daily oil pulling. The fatty acids are released here by the healthy bacteria of the oral flora or even the salivary enzymes so that the pathogenic germs in the mouth are damaged.

Recommendation: Take – in the morning on an empty stomach – 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth and pull the liquid back and forth between your teeth for about 15 minutes. The oil (including the germs) is then spat out. You should then rinse your mouth out several times with warm water before finally brushing your teeth thoroughly as usual.

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Written by John Myers

Professional Chef with 25 years of industry experience at the highest levels. Restaurant owner. Beverage Director with experience creating world-class nationally recognized cocktail programs. Food writer with a distinctive Chef-driven voice and point of view.

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