Coconut Oil Could Help Fight Tooth Decay

By Mary West

Guest Writer for  Wake Up World

Coconut oil  is much in the news these days, being used by the natural health community to enhance many aspects of health. Now, scientists have discovered yet another benefit of this valuable food  – it may be a powerful ally in the fight against tooth decay.

Parents will gladly receive word of this discovery, as the pain of tooth decay and the ensuing infections that sometimes occur often involve treatment with antibiotics, drugs that have adverse effects and can lead to  antibiotic  resistance. A common childhood malady, tooth decay affects 60 to 90 percent of kids in industrialized countries, as well as most of adults, according to researchers.

Coconut oil, a natural agent devoid of side effects, will be a welcome inclusion to the tools used to fight cavities. The findings were so promising that researchers suggest it could be added to  dental  care products like  toothpaste  and mouthwash to promote the health of our teeth.

Scientists found that enzyme-modified coconut oil is a potent killer of mouth bugs.

Scientists at the Athlone Institute of Technology in Ireland evaluated the effectiveness of three different oils in attacking Streptococcus bacteria, acid-producing organisms that are common inhabitants of the mouth and a major cause of tooth decay. They tested natural coconut oil, olive oil and vegetable oil, in addition to the same oils treated with enzymes, simulating the digestive process. Only the enzyme-altered coconut oil displayed the ability to curtail the growth of most strains of the bacteria. It is believed that the breaking down of coconut oil by the enzymes release its components that fight bacteria.

Advantages of using coconut oil in dental products

Lead researcher, Dr. Damien Brady said enzyme-altered coconut oil could be an attractive substitute for cavity-fighting chemicals currently added to dental care products. He points out its advantage of being effective at relatively low concentrations and emphasizes the importance of seeking alternative ways of fighting infections because of increasing antibiotic resistance.

Aside from the above benefits, another advantage is cost, as treating tooth decay can be very expensive in some regions. If the findings of the study hold up in further research, coconut oil could soon become an affordable means of preventing tooth decay.

The results were revealed at a recent meeting of the Society for General Microbiology at the University of Warwick.

Article Sources:

frenchtribune.com/teneur/1213205-coconut-oil-helpful-keeping-away-tooth-decay

medicaldaily.com/articles/11888/20120904/enriched-coconut-oil-help-fight-against-tooth-decay

emaxhealth.com/1020/coconut-oil-could-be-good-teeth

bbc.co.uk/news/health-19435442

independent.ie/health/health-news/coconut-oil-shown-to-help-fight-tooth-decay-3217271

http://www.sgm.ac.uk/en/media_centre/press-releases.cfm/coconut-oil-could-combat-tooth-decay

Previous Articles by  Mary West

About the Author

Mary West is a contributor to the natural wellness site, Live in the Now. She is a natural health enthusiast as she believes this area can profoundly enhance wellness. She is the creator of a natural healing website where she focuses on solutions to health problems that work without side effects. You can visit her site and learn more at www.alternativemedicinetruth.com. Ms. West is also the author of Fight Cancer Through Powerful Natural Strategies.

This article was republished with permission from  Live in the Now, one of the fastest growing natural health newsletters. Visit  LiveInTheNow.com  to browse their complete library of articles, or join the nearly 60,000 readers subscribed to  their Newsletter.


If you've ever found value in our articles, we'd greatly appreciate your support by purchasing Mindful Meditation Techniques for Kids - A Practical Guide for Adults to Empower Kids with the Gift of Inner Peace and Resilience for Life.

In the spirit of mindfulness, we encourage you to choose the paperback version. Delve into its pages away from screen glare and notifications, allowing yourself to fully immerse in the transformative practices within. The physical book enriches the learning process and serves as a tangible commitment to mindfulness, easily shared among family and friends.

Over the past few years, Wake Up World has faced significant online censorship, impacting our financial ability to stay online. Instead of soliciting donations, we're exploring win-win solutions with our readers to remain financially viable. Moving into book publishing, we hope to secure ongoing funds to continue our mission. With over 8,500 articles published in the past 13 years, we are committed to keeping our content free and accessible to everyone, without resorting to a paywall.