If you’re a health nut, you’ve probably heard of the most recent health craze: coconut oil. It’s found to have a multitude of benefits such as improving blood cholesterol, protecting hair against damage, and boosting brain function. Most recently, scientists have found that an enzyme-modified coconut oil could be used in dental care products, perhaps as an alternative to chemical additives in toothpaste. They do not know the exact mechanism, but the modified coconut oil is found to stop the growth of streptococcus bacteria, a major cause of tooth decay. Scientists want to see how the oil interacts with the bacteria and see if it works with other bacteria strains as well.

More on Coconut Oil

There is an old age technique used in India called “oil pulling”, which is where you take a tablespoon of sunflower or sesame oil and swish it around in your mouth for 15-20 minutes. The thought behind the oil pulling technique is that the oil literally pulls the food and plaque stuck in your mouth and it is dissolved in the oil. In relation to coconut oil, there have been more and more people trying this oil pulling technique replacing the traditional sunflower oil with coconut oil. Not only have people found this to taste better, but with the antibacterial properties found in coconut oil, people are believe that it is more effective.

Whether we will be seeing coconut oil as a new active ingredient in our toothpastes or whether oil pulling will become a part of our oral health routine, make your appointment with us at Greenspoint Dental to keep those pearly whites bright.