The best defense against acidic substances that cause tooth
decay in your mouth is of course your saliva, but a recent study suggests that
coconut oil may also help against potentially harmful bacteria that can take up
residence inside your mouth.
Scientists from the Athlone Institute of Technology in Ireland
tested the antibacterial qualities of coconut oil in and found that an
enzyme-modified version was able to strongly inhibit most strains of
Streptococcus bacteria including Streptococcus mutans; the latter is an
acid-producing bacterium that is a major cause of tooth decay. It was also found
to be effective against the yeast Candida albicans, which can cause thrush
(bacteria overgrowth) in the mouth.
Tooth decay, in particular, is a major problem because of poor
dental habits. According to recent research from the National Institute of
Dental and Craniofacial Research, 50-percent of children ages 12 to 15 and 67
percent of teens ages 16 to 19 have tooth decay.
The Irish Researchers recommended that the oil be added to
dental hygiene products, considering that it can work at relatively low
concentrations in fighting the widespread tooth decay problem. Some people have
also utilized the technique of oil pulling in a bid to reduce exposure to
harmful bacteria in the mouth, which consists of swishing around coconut oil or
other oils with water in an effort to kill the bacteria before spitting it out.
The American Dental Association currently has not made a recommendation on the
technique or coconut oil’s benefits for fighting tooth decay, however.
For now, the best way to prevent tooth decay is to make sure to
thoroughly brush all of your teeth twice a day, floss every day and make regular
visits to your dentist for a check-up as well as a full service teeth
cleaning.
Source:
http://www.floss.com/coconut-oil-could-combat-tooth-decay.html
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