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Coconut oil protects against tooth decay
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Love for Bounty chocolates and Raffaello candies may not be as destructive as it once seemed.
Even if we risk girding our waist with a “life preserver”, we have nothing to worry about when it comes to dental health.
Researchers advise to abandon traditional methods of dental care and pay attention to pastes and mouthwashes using coconut oil.
Caries is a disease of hard dental tissues, the external manifestation of which is the destruction of enamel and dentin of the tooth. This disease is not often given close attention, often it is simply not taken seriously.
"Dental caries is the most common health problem, affecting around 90% of children and many adults in developed countries," said study author Dr Damian Brady, from Athlone Institute of Technology.
Scientists claim that coconut oil, treated with digestive enzymes, prevents the growth and occurrence of bacteria that cause tooth decay.
These findings were announced at a conference of the Society for General Microbiology in Warwick, UK.
Research by experts led by Dr. Damian Brady has shown that the bacterium Streptococcus mutans absorbs sugar and other carbohydrates, releasing lactic acid and destroying tooth enamel.
Coconut oil actively prevents the formation of plaque on teeth and stops the growth of pathogenic bacteria.
"Our findings suggest that digested milk proteins prevent microbes from attaching to the intestinal wall and also prevent bacteria from penetrating into cells," Brady concludes.
According to scientists, it was not possible to determine which component has a negative effect on most types of streptococci, but the “digested” oil can be safely used to prevent dental diseases.
"Adding enzyme-rich coconut oil to oral hygiene products is a great alternative to chemical additives," said study author Dr Damien Brady. "Plus, only a small dose of the oil is needed to achieve the desired effect."
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