New research from an Irish Institute has revealed that coconut could be useful in the on-going fight against tooth decay. Tests carried out by scientists at the Athlone Institute of Technology have shown that coconut oil is very effective against Streptococcus mutans – which is one of the main bacterium that produces acid which attacks the teeth, causing decay. It is hoped that toothpastes and mouthwashes will be manufactured using this knowledge, to help consumers and dentists fight tooth decay.
Lead researcher Dr Damien Brady said that ‘Dental caries is a commonly overlooked health problem affecting 60 to 90 per cent of children and the majority of adults in industrialised countries.’ He explained that the study involved adding an enzyme to the coconut oil to make it more efficient when fighting the bacteria; ‘[this] would be an attractive alternative to chemical additives, particularly as it works at relatively low concentrations.’ Which could be beneficial for future products, considering that dental bacteria have been displaying an increased resistance to many antibiotic treatments used in modern treatment.
The research was inspired by previous data which suggested that partially digested milk stopped the bacteria from sticking to teeth; Dr Brady explains ‘products of human digestion show antimicrobial activity. This could have implications for how bacteria colonise the cells lining the digestive tract and for overall gut health.’