Currently, in
the times we’re living in, oral problems are very frequent among the
worldwide population. Hence, besides maintaining proper oral hygiene to prevent
bad breath and yellowish teeth, it’s crucial to maintain the mouth as clean as
possible in order to prevent the occurrence of sores, cavities, or tartar.
However, there are cases when toothpastes and mouthwashes don’t
suffice. When this occurs, one can always turn to natural medicines. Namely,
according to a 2012 study by the Athlone Institute of
Technology, enzyme-modified coconut oil has
the power to suppress harmful bacteria. The study also showed that coconut oil
was very beneficial in removing Streptococcus, Candida Albicans, and Strep
mutans, known causers of oral health issues.
Dr. Damien Brady, who led the researchers, stated that including
enzyme-modified coconut oil to dental hygiene products is a good alternative
for chemical additives. Nonetheless, as the study hasn’t yet reached a
conclusive level so that it could be included into health products, people use
regular coconut oil as a mouthwash. Although unaltered oil might not be as
effective as the enzyme-modified one, it’s still very beneficial, without any
side effects.
The practice of using coconut oil for the oral health is called
oil pulling. It means swishing a tbsp of oil in the mouth cavity for 10 to 20
minutes with the purpose to ‘pull’ as many bacteria as possible from the mouth
into the oil. According to Dentistry IQ, this process originates from millennia-old ayurvedic medicine.
However, the following explanation is more recent than that:
The ‘skin’ of mouth-residing bacteria cells is made of fat, and
as such, these are drawn to the fat within the oil. Coconut oil also contains
lauric acid, which is excellent at shutting down harmful bacteria.
If you want to try out the oil pulling method, you might fail
several times until you adjust the amount of oil in the mouth so it can have an
actual effect. And, as seen on Dentistry IQ, you need to spit the oil in the
trash, not the sink. Also, rinse the mouth thoroughly after the oil pulling to
prevent any leftover bacteria from moving into your system when you swallow.
It’s important to note that this method is in no way a replacement for regular
tooth-brushing.