An oil that’s better than toothpaste for fighting tooth decay
You and the rest of the Western world probably use toothpaste to keep your teeth healthy and free of disease. But there’s something else you could be putting on your toothbrush that’s even more effective.
Coconut oil kills most of the bacteria found in the mouth – especially if the oil has had enzymes added. Most important, it counters the bacteria that are a major cause of tooth decay.
The oil also fights Candida albicans, the bacteria that cause thrush and gut problems, say researchers from the Athlone Institute of Technology in Ireland.
It’s so effective that the research team think it should be added to commercially-available toothpaste.
(Source: Society for General Microbiology autumn conference, August 30, 2012).